EU and Vietnam pledge to boost R&I and education cooperation under new "Strategic Partnership"

The EU and Vietnam have agreed to step up cooperation in research and innovation, science, technology and education.

During a visit of European Council President Antonio Costa to Hanoi on 29/01/2026, the two sides agreed to upgrade their existing relations to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership".

The partnership aims to "deepen and expand" cooperation in science, technology, research and innovation, including by exchanging information on the EU's Horizon Europe R&I programme and by enhancing research capacities.

On education, the EU and Vietnam agreed to "deepen and expand cooperation in education and training, including under programmes such as Erasmus+" as well as exploring options to "build capacities of academic individuals and institutions" and "support the mobility of students and academic staff".

"This is the EU’s first Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Southeast Asia. It underlines the importance we attach to the region and to Vietnam’s growing role within it. It also reflects our determination to be a credible, long-term partner in the Indo-Pacific; one that is…