Poland and Vietnam upgrade ties to strategic partnership, targeting $6 billion by 2030

Upgrade to strategic partnership

Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters after talks in Hanoi on Monday, 26 October, that Poland and Vietnam had agreed to raise their relations to the level of a strategic partnership. Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung said ties between the two countries had reached a high level and called Poland Vietnam's most important partner in Central Europe. Tusk described Vietnam as one of Poland's key partners in Asia and pointed to the large Vietnamese community living in Poland as an important link. Both leaders presented the step as a move from past development successes to joint ventures. Tusk's remarks to the press included this line:

“It is time to turn our successes into joint actions that will open further opportunities for both our countries.”

Trade, investment and visas

Tusk said the free trade agreement between the European Union and Vietnam opens new opportunities for entrepreneurs in both countries, yet Polish firms still face barriers when entering the Vietnamese market. Warsaw wants better conditions for agri-food exports and for investment in pharmaceuticals, IT and green technologies, along with a more balanced trade exchange. Hung said the two sides will set up a joint committee on trade and investment, with the aim of reaching mutual investments worth $6 billion by 2030. On visas, Tusk said he had discussed further easing for Poles with Hung and noted that the visa requirement for Polish tourists was lifted a year earlier. Hung said Vietnam would consider introducing visa-free travel for Polish citizens and welcomed talks on business visas for Vietnamese nationals.

Defence, space and wider cooperation

Tusk said Vietnamese partners are interested in the Polish defence industry and that talks on the subject are under way. The Rosomak and Kraby armoured vehicles were named as possible products, though no contract was reported. Tusk named the Polish space companies Creotech and ICEYE and said Vietnam is interested in satellite technology. Tusk put the defence point this way:

“We welcome Vietnam's interest in cooperating with the Polish defence industry.”

Hung listed agriculture, geology, strategic minerals, environmental protection, disaster warning and heritage protection as areas where Poland could help. He also named energy transition, food processing, space, and science and education including scholarship programmes. Hung said defence, security and the fight against cybercrime would form a new pillar of the strategic partnership.

Peace and security

Tusk and Hung also discussed global challenges, including the threat from Russia and the war in Ukraine. Tusk acknowledged that Vietnam views the war from a different perspective, but both sides agreed that their own wartime experience meant they could support the peace process. Tusk said Poland will always stand for peace based on justice and respect for borders and sovereignty, and that, like Vietnam, it has an interest in reaching peace as quickly as possible. He also said Poland distinguishes peace from capitulation.

Flights and next steps

Tusk said PLL LOT plans to launch a direct Warsaw to Hanoi connection in the first quarter of 2027, and that tourism and contacts between citizens are part of the planned cooperation. The timetable for the flight is the only transport date given so far. No date was given for the first meeting of the new trade and investment committee.