Vietnam seeks to deepen its partnership with Denmark by combining the European country's strengths in green technology and scientific research with Vietnam's growth potential, To Lam said during a policy speech at the University of Copenhagen on Monday.

Speaking during his state visit to Denmark, the Vietnamese leader proposed upgrading the two countries' Green Strategic Partnership to a more comprehensive and strategic framework. He also invited the University of Copenhagen to consider opening a campus in Vietnam, pledging favorable conditions for land and taxation.

Speaker of the Danish Parliament Henrik Frandsen, senior officials from both countries, academics, students and friends of Vietnam attended the event.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam delivers speech at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo by VNA

Offshore wind at center of cooperation

In a speech titled "From Fairy Tales to a Horizon of Vietnam–Denmark Cooperation in a New Era," To Lam said the two countries had built mutual trust over 55 years of diplomatic relations, creating a foundation for broader cooperation.

Denmark was among the first Western European countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam, doing so in 1971. Bilateral ties have since expanded from assistance to cooperation in trade, investment, education, healthcare, energy and climate change.

More than 150 Danish companies now operate in Vietnam, according to the Vietnamese leader, who said the two countries should shift from traditional assistance toward jointly creating economic value.

He identified science and technology, green transition, energy transition and climate change response as priorities, with offshore wind offering significant potential.

Denmark is a global leader in green transition and wind energy, with expertise in spatial planning and the marine economy. Vietnam, meanwhile, has a coastline of more than 3,200 kilometers and substantial offshore wind potential.

Combining these strengths could help develop a renewable energy industry, support climate goals and create opportunities for wider regional cooperation, the Vietnamese leader said. He also suggested Denmark could become a partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in planning the ASEAN Power Grid.

He stressed that the country aims to accelerate economic growth without sacrificing environmental protection or accepting technological backwardness.

During a question-and-answer session, he described green transition as a driver of future growth and a core component of Vietnam's new development model, which is linked to its goal of achieving average double-digit economic growth in the coming period.

The transition could help shift the economy from growth based on natural resources and labor toward higher productivity and clean technology, while creating industries in renewable energy, energy storage, the circular economy, green materials and low-emission agriculture.

Cooperation with international universities could support policy research, energy-transition modeling, next-generation renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and workforce training, he added.

University cooperation and talent development

Education and talent development formed another major pillar of the Vietnamese leader's proposals.

Vietnam needs highly qualified workers to support its economic transformation, while Denmark has a strong scientific and educational foundation, exemplified by the University of Copenhagen, he said.

He proposed establishing joint research groups, co-supervising doctoral candidates and sharing research infrastructure to build long-term academic partnerships.

He invited the University of Copenhagen to consider opening a campus in Vietnam, offering favorable conditions in taxation and land to serve Vietnamese students and those from across Southeast Asia.

Vietnam is also seeking to create a research environment that values quality, integrity and contributions while expanding opportunities for young scientists to work with international partners.

The Vietnamese community in Denmark, particularly its experts, scientists, entrepreneurs and students, could help connect the two countries and strengthen exchanges between younger generations, he said.

Addressing questions about how Vietnam can avoid the middle-income trap, he outlined three shifts: from low-cost labor to productivity and innovation; from extensive growth to green, digital and inclusive development; and from heavy reliance on exports toward a better balance between exports and domestic consumption.

He said Vietnam would prioritize education and training, align curricula with labor market needs in strategic technology sectors, expand digital skills through reskilling and lifelong learning, and attract and retain domestic and overseas talent through competitive incentives and a favorable working environment.

Maritime security and international cooperation

Party General Secretary and President To Lam also called for closer coordination between Vietnam and Denmark on regional and global issues, particularly maritime security and respect for international law.

As maritime nations, the two countries share an interest in maintaining security, safety and freedom of navigation, he said, urging Denmark to support these principles in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He said the two countries should continue coordinating at the United Nations and other multilateral forums while promoting substantive relations between ASEAN and Denmark, as well as ASEAN and the European Union.

He also highlighted the importance of multilateralism, dialogue and the peaceful settlement of disputes, saying bilateral cooperation could contribute to peace, equality and sustainable development beyond the two countries.

He invoked Danish physicist Niels Bohr, who linked scientific discoveries with responsibility for peace. Bohr's 1950 open letter to the United Nations called for a more open world in which cooperation and understanding could help prevent dangers arising from technological progress.

The Vietnamese leader said that message remained relevant as artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies developed rapidly. Countries need stronger dialogue on responsibility, safety and the interests of communities, and Vietnam hopes to work with Denmark in these areas.

A broader strategic partnership

Vietnam and Denmark established a Comprehensive Partnership in 2013 and launched a Green Strategic Partnership in 2023. The Vietnamese leader said the next step should be a more comprehensive and strategic relationship that brings together Denmark's strengths in science, technology and green transition with Vietnam's determination and potential for rapid, sustainable development.

He said the two countries could serve as gateways for each other in Southeast Asia and the European Union, while cooperating on secure supply chains, free trade, science and technology, and climate action.

"Connecting infrastructure, logistics and value chains between the two countries will create an important link between Southeast Asia and Northern Europe," he said.

Vietnam's broader development strategy, he added, involves institutional reform, investment in human resources and a shift toward science- and technology-led innovation.