Vietnam’s admission as an associate country of the International Energy Agency (IEA) marks a significant step as the country enters a new development phase, remaining committed to carbon neutrality and a green energy transition.

According to the Vietnam Trade Office in France, on February 18 - 19 in Paris, the office accompanied Ambassador Trinh Duc Hai to attend the IEA Ministerial Meeting 2026. The event brought together ministers and senior leaders from more than 50 member countries and association partners, along with dozens of CEOs from leading global energy and technology corporations such as EDF, TotalEnergies, Shell, Google and Microsoft.

At the meeting, IEA ministers officially approved the proposal to grant Vietnam associate country status.

Addressing the event, Ambassador Trinh Duc Hai stressed that the decision reflects clear recognition of Vietnam’s persistent efforts and strong determination in advancing energy transition and contributing to global climate action.

He noted that becoming an associate country is particularly important as Vietnam moves into a new stage of development, firmly pursuing its carbon neutrality goals and green energy transition. The new status will enable the country to gain closer access to resources, policy analysis and international experience in the context of global energy integration.

Affirming Vietnam’s strong support for a shared vision of building a truly global energy organization, one that reflects emerging energy trends and balances the interests of member and associate countries, the ambassador stated that Vietnam stands ready to contribute proactively and actively to global energy dialogues.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA, said member countries highly value the increasingly deep and effective cooperation with Vietnam toward a global energy system that is secure, sustainable and affordable.

He emphasized that Vietnam, a country of more than 100 million people with strong potential in solar power, hydropower and gas, as well as prospects for nuclear energy in the future, will be an important associate member of the IEA.

According to the IEA Executive Director, the development once again underscores Vietnam’s strong commitment to contributing actively to global energy dialogues and to building a secure, sustainable and prosperous energy future.

At the 2026 meeting, the IEA also officially recognized Colombia as its 33rd member, launched the accession process for Brazil to become a full member, and announced that India has entered the final stage of its membership accession process.

The International Energy Agency, established in 1974, is a leading intergovernmental organization that plays a central role in shaping global energy policies. Its core mission is to ensure energy security, promote economic development and support environmental sustainability through data analysis and international policy cooperation.