Now the relationship is set to become even deeper, with the wide-ranging EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) on track to be signed in 2018. The FTA will eliminate more than 99% of tariff lines, and partially liberalise the remaining number, in some cases through quota increases. Vietnam will eliminate 65% of its import duties on EU products before or on the date of the FTA entering into force, with the remainder lifted over the following 10 years. The EU will eliminate duties on 71% of products before or on the FTA’s commencement, and lift others over a seven-year period.

Vietnam’s trade with the EU in the first 11 months of 2016 totalled $40.76bn, according to Vietnam Customs. The bloc was Vietnam’s second-biggest export market, worth $30.72bn (up 9% on the same period of 2015, and accounting for 19.2% of the total), and its fourth-biggest source of imports ($10bn, up 9.7%, and 6.4% of the total). Machinery and appliances accounted for just over half of Vietnam’s exports to the EU, 50.1%, with telecommunications equipment comprising 33.5% of all exports. Footwear and hats accounted for 12.1%, and textiles and textile articles 10.4%. Vietnam’s imports from the EU, meanwhile, included machinery and appliances (27.4% of the total), chemicals (17.8%) and manufactured goods (11.3%).

The EU is ASEAN's second largest trading partner. Based on EU statistics, in 2015 ASEAN-EU two-way trade in goods stood at €201 billion, an 11% increase on 2014. In 2015, ASEAN exported almost €118 billion to the EU and the EU €83 billion to ASEAN.

Vietnam is the only ASEAN member with an FTA with Russia.

the “Go Global” policy, but China’s agenda is about more than increasing investment, pursuing product diversification, improving the level and quality of the projects, expanding financial channels, and promoting brand recognition of Chinese companie

welcomes Chinese aid, saying that it comes with no strings attached, many experts are concerned that China is providing aid for more nefarious reasons. Critics also accuse Chinese investment and aid of having exacerbat-ed corruption, weakened governance and harmed human rights, and of ruining