Tô Lâm Proposes Semiconductor and Green Ties with EU
President Tô Lâm outlined a vision for Vietnam-EU cooperation in semiconductors and green technology during a policy speech in Brussels.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam and President Tô Lâm delivered a policy speech at the Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels on October 23, 2026. During an official visit to Belgium, he proposed a partnership based on strategic autonomy and mutual respect for international law, positioning Việt Nam as a strategic bridge between Asia and Europe.
President Tô Lâm called for breakthrough cooperation in biotechnology, responsible AI, and semiconductors, specifically identifying Belgium's IMEC research center as a key partner for joint research and development. He also sought EU technical assistance to help Vietnamese firms comply with green standards, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), to support climate change mitigation in the Mekong Delta.
The president detailed Việt Nam's long-term economic goals to become a modern industrial nation by 2030 and a developed, high-income nation by 2045. He offered for Việt Nam to serve as a pilot model for inter-regional partnerships between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union.
