HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — In a diplomatic meeting aimed at strengthening international partnerships, Estonia’s top diplomat Margus Tsahkna held discussions with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on Wednesday, focusing on expanding collaboration in commerce, technology, and digital modernization efforts.
The partnership between Vietnam and Estonia has gained momentum in recent years, with both nations finalizing digital cooperation agreements in 2025.
While Estonia represents only 0.2% of the European Union’s economic output, the Baltic nation has established itself as a leader in digital innovation and electronic government services. Estonian officials are now sharing this technological know-how with Vietnam as the Southeast Asian manufacturing hub works toward becoming a high-income nation by 2045.
According to Tsahkna, digital service collaboration could help Vietnam streamline government processes, enhance transparency, and reduce operational expenses.
“It is much more quicker for citizens to be part of public sector services,” he told The Associated Press in Hanoi, noting that Vietnam had proposed an education cooperation agreement.
Prime Minister Hung requested Estonia’s assistance in encouraging the European Union to approve an Investment Protection Agreement and to help remove the European Commission’s “yellow card” restriction on Vietnamese seafood imports related to illegal fishing concerns, according to government media reports.
Tsahkna explained that Estonia could function as an entry point for Vietnamese companies seeking European markets, while Vietnam provides Estonia access to broader markets and Southeast Asian opportunities.
“For us, Vietnam is one of the priority countries in the region,” he stated.
The Estonian minister noted that the Vietnamese discussions also provided a platform to share Europe’s perspective on Russia as an “existential threat.”
Vietnam and Russia have maintained diplomatic ties since 1950, with Vietnam taking a neutral position on the Ukraine conflict, promoting peace while avoiding direct condemnation of Russian actions.
Tsahkna explained that Estonia’s outreach efforts in Vietnam and Southeast Asia stem from both geopolitical challenges and economic possibilities, particularly as U.S. President Donald Trump’s critiques of European defense contributions and trade disputes push Europe to seek new partnerships.
