On October 22, 2026, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam visited Brussels. During the visit, negotiations took place with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa. Following the meeting, the parties issued a joint statement noting discussion of a wide range of bilateral cooperation issues between the European Union and Vietnam. Topics of the negotiations included strengthening economic and political ties, issues of regional security in Southeast Asia, as well as responses to current global challenges. The visit of the high-ranking Vietnamese leader to EU institutions is viewed as a step toward further developing partnership between Brussels and Hanoi. Vietnam remains one of the key trading partners of the European Union in Southeast Asia, and such high-level meetings are intended to promote strengthening dialogue on issues of trade, investment, and security in the region. Details of the joint statement, including specific agreements and further steps for cooperation, were published by the European Commission.