Vietnam expects Netherlands to soon ratify EVIPA

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made the request during December 12 talks in The Hague with his host, Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

He requested that the Netherlands lobby the European Commission to soon remove the ‘yellow card’ imposed on Vietnamese seafood exports, and support Vietnam to build seaports, airports and innovation centers based on the Brainport model. He also proposed that the two sides soon sign a labour cooperation agreement.

The two leaders agreed to continue effectively implementing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and jointly work toward becoming goods transit hubs in the two regions.

PM Rutte affirmed that the EVFTA is an important driving force in promoting economic relations between the two countries. He emphasized that Dutch businesses are increasingly interested in Vietnam, a country that has political stability and a favourable business and investment environment. He highly appreciated Vietnam’s efforts to develop sustainable fisheries, and supported the European Commission to soon remove the ‘yellow card’.

The two leaders agreed to step up the Vietnam – Netherlands cooperation within the framework of their strategic partnership on climate change adaptation and their strategic partnership on sustainable agriculture.

Rutte said the Netherlands is ready to share experience, knowledge, and technology, and provide preferential loans to assist Vietnam in the fields of sustainable agriculture, logistics systems, green transformation, biodiversity protection, and water management, especially in the Mekong Delta.

Chinh proposed the Dutch government provide financial and technological support for human resource training within the framework of the ‘Justice Energy Transition Partnership’ (JETP), in order to help Vietnam respond effectively and implement climate change commitments.

Rutte assured the Netherlands would promote cooperation in renewable energy development, support Vietnam in offshore sand mining technology, prevent landslides, and revise the law on water resources in the country. He welcomed Chinh’s proposal to establish a tripartite cooperation mechanism on agriculture and food security, in order to address supply chain disruptions and global food security.

The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in security - defense, culture - tourism, transportation, science - technology, and education - training, while supporting each other at multilateral forums such as the ASEAN - EU cooperation framework, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the United Nations.

Chinh pushed for increasing cooperation between the two countries’ localities such as between Hanoi and Amsterdam, and between Ho Chi Minh City and Rotterdam. He proposed the Netherlands increase scholarships for Vietnamese students to study at Dutch universities.

The two sides reaffirmed the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, and settling disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation documents between the two countries, including those on climate change response, tertiary education – training, and water resources management.