German and Vietnamese government officials signed an agreement on Tuesday for closer cooperation on placing skilled Vietnamese workers in jobs in Germany.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Vo Van Thuong, President of Vietnam, meet for talks at the Presidential Palace. German President Steinmeier and his wife are visiting Vietnam and Thailand during a four-day trip to Southeast Asia.

The agreement would clear bureaucratic hurdles and ensure "that the people who come to Germany are treated fairly," German Labour Minister Hubertus Heil said in Hanoi on Tuesday.

"I believe this is the beginning of a really fruitful cooperation," said Heil, who is accompanying German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on his state visit to Vietnam.

Steinmeier arrived in Hanoi in the morning, accompanied by his wife Elke Büdenbender. A German business delegation also came with him to South-East Asia.

The delegation will also visit Thailand later this week.

Heil pointed out that many people with Vietnamese roots are already working in Germany "and we could do with more of them."

"We in Germany have a great need for skilled workers. And we are pleased that Vietnam is willing to cooperate with Germany in this way," said Steinmeier after talks with Vietnam's President Vo Van Thuong.

Steinmeier also made clear that Germany is interested in a deeper trade relationship with Vietnam. Annual bilateral trade between the two counrties totals €18 billion ($20 billion).

Germany is Vietnam's most important trading partner in Europe and a leading investor in the country.

Thuong asked Steinmeier for German support in approving an investment protection agreement between Vietnam and the European Union, including ratifying the deal in the German parliament.

Earlier on Tuesday, Steinmeier visited the Goethe Institute German cultural centre in Hanoi to find out more about German language training for young Vietnamese who have already completed specialist training and plan to immigrate to Germany.