The cooperation between Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has lasted nearly a decade, during which HSF has assisted MoFA with capacity building and training of local authorities in international economic integration. Recognizing the effective bilateral cooperation in the 2009-2011 period, which made significant contributions to Vietnam’s economic development, a new MoU for the period 2012-2013 was signed by the local representative of HSF in Hanoi, Axel Neubert, and the representative of the MoFA, Ambassador Mrs. Nga.  The signing ceremony was attended by the German ambassador, Mr. Wunderlich, who welcomed the signing for strengthening German-Vietnamese cooperation in the light of an increased interest from German companies to invest in Vietnam.

With this agreement, Vietnam will be able to benefit from Germany’s long year experience in sustainable development and green growth, also enabling it to better achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. On the side of the MoFA, Ambassador Nga reminded about the importance of a continued focus on economic integration of the strategic partnership between the two countries. She also emphasized the necessity of receiving more attention from the European Union as a whole, recognizing, however, that this would take more time. For the time being, a stronger partnership with Germany is key to improving EU-relations as well.

The MoFA is responsible for Vietnam’s foreign relations with other states and gives advice to the foreign minister and the Vietnamese government. By organizing different trainings, workshops and roundtables, HSF will enable the MoFA to acquire the know-how on international best practices concerning the key issues. By helping to conduct researches and surveys and with the release of publications, HSF enables the cooperation to emerge with new findings and to disseminate these findings as well.