The Deputy PM welcomed the Minister’s visit and expressed his thanks to the Danish Government for its assistance to Vietnam during the country’s development process.

For Vietnam, in its effort to be removed from the list of underdeveloped countries and to become an industrial nation by 2020, assistance from foreign countries, including Denmark, is particularly important, deputy PM Hung further said.

He expressed his belief that the cooperation between Vietnam and Denmark would continue to develop, especially in economics and trade.

Minister Tornaes said she is impressed with the achievements Vietnam has made during its renewal process, particularly progress in poverty reduction.

She said Denmark has ratified a strategy on assisting Vietnam’s development until 2010, with a focus on such areas as environmental protection, natural disaster prevention and support for private businesses.

Earlier on April 24, Minister Tornaes and Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Cao Duc Phat, co-chaired an international conference of the Mekong River Commission (MRC).

At the event, she announced a grant of US$530,000 from Denmark to help improve the capacity of the MRC Secretariat.

Vietnam is holding the presidency of the MRC, which also includes Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.