On November 11th, 2025, in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Danh Huy had a meeting and worked with Mr. Guerrier Julien - Ambassador of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Vietnam and EU experts to discuss and promote cooperation in the fields of green infrastructure, sustainable transport and clean energy transition.
At the meeting, the two sides discussed the Vietnam Transport Facility (VTF) which is being promoted by the EU and the French Development Agency (AFD), with a scale of about 40 million Euros in non-refundable aid to serve research, technical assistance, capacity building, expert mobilization and preparation of green transport projects in Vietnam.
As part of joint efforts to reduce emissions, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and promote green transition, the EU has stated that it is coordinating with the Academy of Construction Strategy and Cadres Training (ACST) and the Vietnam Railways Corporation to finalize the Terms of Reference (TOR) for conducting a technical assessment and analysis on converting Vietnam’s diesel-powered locomotives and carriages to the use of electric and green energy.
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Working scene.
Another important topic discussed during the meeting was the process of transferring and applying European Standards (Eurocodes) in the fields of construction and railways. Ambassador Julien Guerrier stated that the EU had received an official letter from the leadership of the Ministry of Science and Technology, authorizing the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality (STAMEQ) to sign the membership application form and send it to the European Committee for Standardization (CEN/CENELEC). This will serve as a basis for Vietnam to access and apply European Standards in the railway sector.
Emphasizing the EU’s interest and desire to expand cooperation with Vietnam in various fields particularly in transportation and high-speed rail, Ambassador Julien Guerrier stated that the EU is ready to send leading experts to Vietnam to work, exchange knowledge, and support the Ministry of Construction in adopting and transforming the EU’s high-quality standards for high-speed rail. These efforts aim to contribute to Vietnam’s North–South High-Speed Railway project and other related initiatives.
At the meeting, Deputy Minister Nguyễn Danh Huy expressed his gratitude to the European Union for its interest and support in transferring and applying European Standards in the fields of railways and construction. He also highly appreciated the EU’s commitment to sending leading experts to collaborate and provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Construction during the process of researching, adopting, and effectively utilizing this advanced standards system. He alo thanked the EU for inviting a delegation from the Ministry of Construction to participate in the study program on high-speed railway standards in the Kingdom of Belgium, scheduled to take place from December 1–5, 2025.
Regarding the implementation of the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Huy acknowledged the active cooperation and dialogue between the two sides in carrying out the Annex on automobiles and motor vehicle parts. He also noted that the Ministry of Construction is continuing to review and improve relevant regulations to ensure compliance with the provisions of the EVFTA, while facilitating businesses in the importation, inspection, and quality certification of components and motor vehicles in accordance with European standards.
Huy affirmed that Vietnam highly appreciates the companionship and effective support of the European Union in the fields of infrastructure, transportation, and sustainable urban development. He also stated that the Ministry of Construction hopes the EU will continue to provide technical assistance, share experience, and mobilize financial resources to promote cooperative programs in energy transition, green urban development, and the construction of resilient infrastructure capable to climate change impacts, contributing to deepening the partnership between Vietnam and the European Union, towards the goal of green, sustainable development and common prosperity.