Speaking at the meeting, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Trinh Duc Hai said the IEA's decision is a clear recognition of Viet Nam’s sustained efforts and strong determination in its energy transition and global climate action.
Becoming an association country is particularly important as Viet Nam enters a new stage of development, remaining steadfast in its goal of carbon neutrality and green energy transition, he said.
Affirming Viet Nam’s strong support for the common vision of building a truly global energy organisation that reflects emerging energy trends and balances the interests of member and association countries, the ambassador said Viet Nam stands ready to contribute proactively to global energy dialogues.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, IEA Executive Director Dr. Fatih Birol highlighted the growing and deepening cooperation between the agency and Viet Nam towards a global energy system that is secure, sustainable and affordable.
He described Viet Nam – a nation of more than 100 million people with strong potential in solar power, hydropower and gas, as well as future nuclear energy prospects – as an important association partner of the IEA.
According to the IEA leader, the event once again affirmed Viet Nam’s strong commitment to contributing actively to global energy dialogues and working together to build a secure, sustainable and prosperous energy future.
The IEA is a leading global energy forum. It is not only a reputable international organisation but also a key forum for ensuring energy security and promoting sustainable clean energy transition. Becoming an association country allows Viet Nam closer access to resources, policy analysis and international experience in the context of energy globalisation.
Held in Paris on February 18-19, the 2026 IEA Ministerial Meeting brought together nearly 60 ministers and senior leaders from member and association countries, along with dozens of chief executives from leading global energy and technology corporations such as EDF, TotalEnergies and Shell.
The meeting sought to agree on strategic directions to strengthen energy security in the era of electrification, while ensuring that the energy transition proceeds in a secure, sustainable and cost-effective manner for all countries.
At the meeting, the IEA formally recognised Colombia as its 33rd member, launched the accession process to admit Brazil as a full member, and announced that India has entered the final stage of its accession process for full membership.
