(MPI) - Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong hold an online working session on January 21 with Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary in the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development to discuss a number of priority cooperation areas between Vietnam and Germany in the time ahead.

At the working session. Photo: MPI

State Secretary Jochen congratulated Vietnam on its recent socio-economic achievements, and expressed confidence that the country will continue to achieve great success in the new era.

He emphasised that, despite global uncertainties and complex developments, Germany highly values Vietnam as one of its most important priority partners in the region, which reflected in the German President’s high-level visit to Vietnam in early 2024.

As both Vietnam and Germany share common interests in free trade and climate change response, BMZ is ready to promote deeper cooperation, strengthening the Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, as well as expanding technical and financial collaboration, he said.

Regarding financial cooperation and technical assistance, Jochen noted that German-funded projects in Vietnam have been implemented actively and effectively. However, he acknowledged that some challenges remain in project preparation and complex procedural requirements; suggested the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) continue coordinating with relevant agencies to accelerate progress and enhance the effectiveness of Germany-funded projects.

For his part, Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong highly appreciated the long-standing and effective cooperation between Vietnam and Germany, adding that Germany has been one of Vietnam’s most important trading partners in Europe for many years. The partnership has expanded positively, becoming more comprehensive across various sectors.

Germany has provided over 2 billion in ODA funding for Vietnam, focusing on key areas such as renewable energy, environmental protection, and vocational training, which significantly contributing to Vietnam’s socio-economic development and align with its strategic priorities and growth trajectory.

Given Vietnam’s high demand for ODA loans, the country prioritises German financial and technical assistance for key projects. German resources have been effectively allocated to Vietnam’s most critical sectors.

Deputy Minister Phuong proposed that Germany continues supporting Vietnam in infrastructure development, modern urban planning, and green city projects, helping the country adapt to environmental challenges and fulfill its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

For technical assistance, Vietnam prioritises high-quality human resource development, particularly in emerging industries such as AI and semiconductors. Additionally, Germany’s support in healthcare system enhancement and social security development remains a priority.

The deputy minister also provided updates on the revised Public Investment Law, which reflects a strong commitment to reform, decentralization, and administrative simplification. The law aims to streamline investment preparation and accelerate technical assistance projects, ensuring more efficient use of German funding.

The MPI stands ready to work closely with BMZ to enhance bilateral cooperation, share insights on effective ODA projects, and organize policy discussions between the two sides to explore strategies for maximizing development resources./.

Bao Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment