Chairman of the German-Vietnamese Association and former German Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Rolf Schulze, said that the Vietnam-Germany bilateral relationship is a great success story.
In an interview with a VNA correspondent in the Federal Republic of Germany on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Germany (September 23, 1975 - September 23, 2025), Mr. Schulze said that since upgrading bilateral relations to Strategic Partnership in October 2011, relations between the two countries have continued to develop deeply, effectively and substantially in all fields.
Talking about the achievements of the Vietnam-Germany cooperation relationship over the past 50 years and the strengths that need to be promoted, Mr. Schulze said that the bilateral relationship between Germany and Vietnam over the past 50 years is a great success story and has brought benefits to both sides.
In international affairs, trade and economic affairs, academic and professional training, and many other areas, the two countries have built a remarkable network of cooperation. A major milestone was the establishment of a Strategic Partnership in 2011, which provided a framework for bilateral cooperation. Both countries support a rules-based international order in which borders are respected and all countries, large and small, enjoy equal rights.
Mr. Schulze said that over the years, both countries have developed close trade and investment relations. In the European Union (EU), Germany is Vietnam's largest trading partner and Vietnam is one of Germany's most important trading partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Nearly 400 German companies are doing business in Vietnam and have carried out significant investment projects and ensured good jobs for thousands of Vietnamese workers. In terms of education and training, the Vietnamese-German University (VGU) near Ho Chi Minh City is a key project that both countries can be proud of. The German House in Ho Chi Minh City is also a monument to the friendship between the two countries. Mr. Schulze expressed his pride in having contributed to the realization of both projects during his time as German Ambassador to Vietnam (2007-2011).
Assessing the potential for cooperation between the two countries in the coming time, both in bilateral relations and at multilateral forums, Mr. Schulze commented that Germany is one of the world's leading countries in engineering and technology while Vietnam is a "rising star" in the international arena with an astonishing annual GDP growth rate and is aiming to become a developed country by 2045.
He clearly saw that the two countries were a perfect match. For example, for the project to build a high-speed railway connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, many German companies have expressed their willingness to contribute to this project.

In the field of vocational training, efforts are being made to facilitate the recruitment of talented young Vietnamese students to study and work in Germany.
In fact, the German-Vietnamese Association, of which Mr. Schulze is the President, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Vietnamese labor training and recruitment company, in which the German-Vietnamese Association pledged to support the opening of the labor market in both countries. Mr. Schulze affirmed that in multilateral forums, Germany and Vietnam will certainly continue to cooperate effectively within the framework of the United Nations.
Regarding the plans of the German-Vietnamese Association in the year of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Mr. Schulze said that the German-Vietnamese Association has a busy agenda for 2025. At the end of June, the German-Vietnamese Association held a high-level international conference in Berlin to discuss trade and economic relations with the participation of nearly 200 experts.
The CEO of the German-Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV) and the CEO of the German Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA), a global economic network, delivered keynote speeches at the conference. The German-Vietnamese Association was honored to welcome the official delegation of the Vietnamese-German Association to Berlin on this occasion.
According to Mr. Schulze, just a few weeks ago, the German-Vietnamese Association welcomed a delegation from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO). In the near future, the German-Vietnamese Association plans to meet with friends in Hamburg to learn from representatives of the younger generation about their bilateral experiences. The famous writer Khue Pham will be the guest of honor and will read her latest book, which has become a bestseller in Germany.
Later this year, Mr. Schulze announced that he would be opening an exhibition on urban development in Vietnam. The event will take place at the Deutsches Haus. In October, a delegation from the German-Vietnamese Association will visit Vietnam and hold official talks with partners in Hanoi. To better manage the Association’s activities in Vietnam, the Association has recently appointed a representative on site to help coordinate joint programs.
According to Mr. Schulze, the toolkit for developing bilateral relations between the two countries has been carefully prepared. The most important thing is to maintain the momentum and ensure a sustainable approach to issues of mutual concern.
He said there are plans for high-level visits by both sides and there are also ideas on upgrading the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Partnership. According to him, these will be steps in the right direction./.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/50-nam-quan-he-viet-nam-duc-cau-chuyen-thanh-cong-lon-post1063412.vnp
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