Vietnam, EU Set to Announce Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Vietnam and the European Union are expected to announce a comprehensive strategic partnership as European Council President Antonio Costa begins his official visit to the Southeast Asian nation on Thursday.

The agreement, which would be the first for the EU in Asean, follows numerous such deals Vietnam has inked — including with the US, China, Russia, Japan, India, UK, France and Australia — as its global economic and security role grows. Vietnam has signed 17 trade pacts as it seeks double-digit expansion of its trade-reliant economy.