On the evening of January 28, European Council President Antonio Costa arrived in Hanoi, starting an official visit to Vietnam from January 28 to 30, at the invitation of President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Luong Cuong.
Welcoming the delegation at Noi Bai International Airport were: Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong, Ambassador - Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the European Union (EU) Nguyen Van Thao; on the European Union side was the European Union Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier.
Accompanying European Council President Antonio Costa on an official visit to Vietnam were Head of the Foreign Affairs Advisory Board, Presidential Office Anna-Maria Boura; Foreign Affairs Advisor, Presidential Office Veronika Sentürk Musilova; Spokesperson, Presidential Office Maria Tomasik.
Answering an interview with a VNA correspondent in Brussels (Belgium) about the meaning and expectations for this visit, Ambassador - Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the European Union (EU) Nguyen Van Thao said that the official visit to Vietnam by European Council President Antonio Costa is of utmost importance to Vietnam-EU relations. This becomes even more special as this is the visit of a high-level EU head of state to Vietnam right after the success of the 14th National Congress of the Party.
According to Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao, this visit is not only of social significance, but more importantly, the leaders of the two sides will have the opportunity to exchange in depth about specific and practical cooperation programs, aiming to elevate Vietnam-EU relations to a new stage of development, commensurate with the potential and development needs of both sides.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Vietnam, Julien Guerrier, said that the visit took place right at a time when Vietnam-EU relations have developed strongly and deeply in the region after a 35-year journey, from initial humanitarian assistance in the 1990s to now.
Ambassador Julien Guerrier said that Vietnam-EU cooperation has reached a stage that could open a "new era" in relations between the European Union and Vietnam.
