Are Europeans putting profits over human rights in Vietnam?

Vietnam 's Communist Party chief and president, To Lam , arrived in Brussels on Wednesday for an official visit to the European Union (EU) and Belgium in another sign of a relationship that continues to grow. The visit comes just days after Vietnam signed a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) , comprising Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Trade ties between Vietnam and Europe have deepened in recent years. The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which took effect in August 2020 , substantially expanded Vietnam's commercial ties with most European states.