In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the PM’s visit from December 11-12, the Ambassador said the visit, made at the invitation of PM Mark Rutte and taking place ahead of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-Netherlands diplomatic ties, will create a premise for a new development period of the Vietnam-Netherlands ties.
The ambassador noted that the two countries share similarities in natural conditions and geopolitics. The Netherlands has strengths in utilising water resources and a resolve in fulfilling climate and environmental protection targets, and the country has set a good example in terms of circular economy, digital transformation and energy transformation. Those are also issues that Vietnam attaches importance to.
Therefore, PM Chinh is especially interested in collaboration with the Netherlands in climate change response and energy transition, Anh said, adding that the PM also pays attention to trade and investment cooperation.
Therefore, the Vietnamese government leader will chair a business forum on cooperation in climate change and energy transition and meet with leading Dutch enterprises which have already invested in Vietnam or are interested in shifting their operation to Vietnam.
Highlighting the hallmarks in the bilateral friendship over the past nearly 50 years such as the Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam and the Quang Tri hospital, Anh stressed that the Netherlands had sent experts to help Vietnam in education, agriculture, irrigation and maritime during the most difficult years. The support has helped the Southeast Asian nation overcome difficulties and become a rice exporter.
The relationship has seen outstanding developments over the past two decades, he said, explaining that the enhanced delegation exchange has contributed to boosting cooperation in all spheres, and led to the formation of two strategic partnerships during this period- the strategic partnership in climate change adaptation and water management (in 2010) and another on sustainable agriculture and food security (in 2014). The two countries also formed a comprehensive partnership during a Vietnam visit by PM Mark Rutte in April 2019.
The ambassador held that the two countries hold substantial potential for cooperation, particularly in climate change response, energy transition, seaport planning and construction, semi-conductor technology, and high-tech agriculture.
