Fresh impetus for Vietnam-Norway bilateral relations

Taking place as Vietnam and Norway celebrate the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, the visit holds significant importance in maintaining traditional friendship, consolidating political trust, and adding new impetus to bilateral cooperation.

This also marks Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Doan Anh’s first official working trip to Norway in his capacity as Vice NA Chairman, showing the Vietnamese legislature’s high regard for bilateral ties while contributing to the promotion of parliamentary cooperation and the realization of cooperative potential between the two countries.

During the visit, Doan Anh held talks with First Vice President of the Storting Morten Stordalen; met with Nikolai Astrup, Chairman of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Parliamentary Committee, and Tellef Inge Mørland, Head of the Norwegian Delegation to the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA); had working sessions with DNV and TOMRA; attended the reception celebrating the 81st National Day of Vietnam and the 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Norway diplomatic relations; and met with embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Norway.

During the talks and meetings, both sides assessed that Vietnam-Norway relations are well-positioned to enter a new stage of development. Over the past 55 years, bilateral ties have been steadily reinforced on the foundation of friendship, mutual respect, and trust, with cooperation continuously expanding across state, governmental, parliamentary, and people-to-people channels. Notably, the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on a Green Strategic Partnership in April 2026 has provided an additional framework and impetus for long-term cooperation in maritime economy, renewable energy, circular economy, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development.

Exchanging views with the leaders of the Norwegian parliament (the Storting), Vice Chairman Nguyen Doan Anh briefed them on Vietnam's socio-economic development, the prominent outcomes of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and the activities of the 16th National Assembly, while discussing orientations to further strengthen relations between the two legislative bodies.

He affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to and wishes to further develop its friendly and cooperative relations with Norway, proposing that the two parliaments maintain delegation exchanges and frequent contacts, expand cooperation between specialized committees, and enhance the sharing of experience in legislation, supervision, and institutional refinement.

The Norwegian parliamentary leadership highly appreciated the visit by Vice Chairman Nguyen Doan Anh and his delegation, congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in socio-economic development and international integration, and affirmed that Norway values its relations with Vietnam and seeks to expand cooperation in areas of mutual strength and shared interest. Both sides agreed to step up  economic, trade, and investment cooperation, fully tap  existing potential and cooperative frameworks to generate concrete results in bilateral ties.

Both sides also consented to continue enhancing the role of the legislative bodies in promoting and overseeing the implementation of cooperative agreements, contributing to a favorable political and legal foundation for stable and long-term bilateral relations, while increasing the exchange of legislative and supervisory experience and coordination at regional and international parliamentary forums.

On international and regional issues of mutual concern, including the situation in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz, they underscored the importance of upholding international law and resolving disputes and disagreements through dialogue.  

Meeting with Nikolai Astrup, Chairman of the EFTA Parliamentary Committee, and Tellef Inge Mørland, Head of the Norwegian Delegation to the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Vice Chairman Nguyen Doan Anh welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and EFTA, seeing it as an important milestone that opens up new spaces for trade, investment, and economic connectivity between Vietnam, Norway, and other EFTA member states.

The Vice Chairman requested that the parliaments of EFTA countries soon complete the necessary procedures for the early signing, ratification, and effective implementation of the agreement, thereby bringing practical benefits to the people and business communities of all sides. Expanding cooperation with EFTA holds significance not only for trade and investment exchanges but also enables Vietnam to gain deeper access to advanced technologies, standards, and management experience from Nordic countries, thereby supporting the restructuring of its growth model toward a green, sustainable direction with higher added value.

Both sides also noted that there remains huge potential to enhance connectivity between ASEAN and EFTA, particularly in trade, green transition, ocean governance, science and technology, and innovation. Vietnam stands ready to play a bridging role, boosting relations between ASEAN and EFTA, Northern Europe, and Europe at large.

Meanwhile, the spirit of turning cooperative frameworks and political goodwill into concrete programs and projects was clearly demonstrated during Vice Chairman Nguyen Doan Anh’s working sessions with DNV and TOMRA, major Norwegian enterprises in maritime, energy, environmental technology, and circular economy sectors that have invested in Vietnam for many years.

At DNV, Doan Anh suggested that the enterprise explore expanded cooperation with Vietnam in maritime transport, offshore wind power, energy infrastructure, technical standards, digital transformation, training, and knowledge transfer. Working with TOMRA, he encouraged enhanced cooperation in waste collection, sorting, and recycling; circular economy development; technology transfer; and human resource training.

The Vice Chairman affirmed that the Vietnamese NA will continue to accompany the Government in fine-tuning institutions, removing difficulties and obstacles, and fostering a transparent, stable, and favorable investment environment for enterprises possessing technological competence, experience, and a commitment to long-term cooperation with Vietnam, especially in sectors serving green transition and sustainable development.

These activities with Norwegian enterprises helped clarify one of the key orientations of the visit: linking political ties and parliamentary cooperation with specific economic and technological projects, while better exploiting the complementary nature of Vietnam's developmental needs and Norway's strengths in green technology, maritime economy, and circular economy.

Speaking at the reception celebrating the 81st National Day of Vietnam and the 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Norway diplomatic relations, Vice Chairman Nguyen Doan Anh emphasized that Vietnam always treasures the profound sentiments, solidarity, and invaluable support extended by the Government and people of Norway during the years of past struggles for national independence as well as in the current national construction and development.

Building upon the foundation of friendship, trust, and mutual respect cultivated by multiple generations, Vietnam-Norway relations stand before favorable opportunities to develop more deeply and extensively, closely linking political cooperation with economic, trade, investment, scientific, technological, and green development.

Meeting with embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Norway, Doan Anh hailed the role of the diplomatic mission and the expatriate community in connecting the two countries and nations, asking them to continue serving as a bridge linking agencies, localities, businesses, and peoples of both sides. He encouraged the Vietnamese community in Norway to maintain solidarity, stability, sound integration into the host society, preservation of national cultural identity, and strong ties toward the homeland, thereby making positive contributions to the Vietnam-Norway friendship.

Based on 55 years of diplomatic ties, alongside new impetus from the Green Strategic Partnership and the ongoing promotion of the Vietnam-EFTA Free Trade Agreement, the visit contributes to more closely binding political relations with economic, technological, and green development cooperation, creating a premise to expand cooperative potential for rapid, sustainable development and the shared interests of the two countries, their enterprises, and their people.

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