Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh (R) receives State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office Andreas Michaelis in Hanoi on December 5, 2019. (Photo: VGP)

Receiving State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office Andreas Michaelis, Deputy PM Minh hailed the outcomes of the fifth meeting of the Vietnam–Germany Strategic Management Group, with the adoption of a Plan of Action for the 2019-2020 period. He said that the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Germany lays a solid foundation for expanding economy, trade, and investment ties. He expressed his hope that Germany, playing a leading role in the EU, will work to accelerate approval of the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Investment Protection Agreement (IPA). Mr. Michaelis lauded the fruitful Vietnam–Germany strategic partnership.