HCM City marks 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties with the Netherlands

In his speech, Phan Van Mai, chairman of the municipal People's Committee, emphasised that throughout many historical periods joint ties have seen positive developments, especially during the past two decades with visits made by senior leaders of the two countries.

The two sides upgraded their relations to that of a comprehensive partnership in 2019 during the visit of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to Vietnam in April, 2019.

Since then both countries have deepened co-operation across a variety of fields, from politics to diplomacy, economics, trade, and investment.

Furthermore, the two countries have also closely co-operated across multiple such as culture, education, promotion of the rule of law and human rights, crime prevention and control, local co-operation to create positive effects for both sides, and helping to deepen understanding and bring common prosperity to both peoples.

The municipal leader said that based on the sound bilateral foundation, Ho Chi Minh City has always been one of the localities that has actively promoted relations with the Netherlands.

In 2022, total two-way trade turnover between Ho Chi Minh City and the Netherlands reached US$1.6 billion.

Moreover, the Netherlands currently has 185 investment projects in the southern city with a total capital of more than US$5 billion, ranking fifth out of 117 countries and territories investing in the city.

Projects, consultancy on climate change adaptation, water management, bicycle development in the central area and investments made by leading Dutch technology enterprises are contributing to creating a greener Ho Chi Minh City along with achieving more sustainable development.

Dutch scholarships granted to Vietnamese students, including students in Ho Chi Minh City, to study at leading Dutch schools are contributing to improving the overall quality of the southern metropolis’s human resources.

Mai highlighted the 50th anniversary of mutual relations as an opportunity to look back on the development of the traditional friendship between the two countries and also an opportunity for them to further develop.

The parties reaffirmed their bilateral commitments and pledged to work together for a future with new, bigger, and brighter co-operation prospects.

Upon addressing the ceremony, Daniel Stork, consul general of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City, said that over the past 50 years, both sides have shared a special relationship, built on the foundation of open relations with many similarities in terms of geographical features and being countries living alongside the sea.

The Netherlands and Vietnam have constantly upgraded their relationship, jointly addressing important global challenges such as climate change, sustainable agriculture, and water management.

The two countries have focused their efforts on exchanging, co-operating and sharing experience with the Dutch public and business partners to achieve a sustainable future for the Mekong Delta region, as well as protecting the coast of Vietnam.

According to Stork, over recent times the two countries have conducted a number of high-level visits, during these visits leaders from the two countries have reaffirmed their commitments to solving global challenges, working together for a more peaceful and sustainable future.

Besides the sound relationship between the two governments, Vietnam and the Netherlands have witnessed extensive co-operation in the fields of education, science, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

In terms of local relations, the city of Rotterdam, the largest seaport in Europe and the largest seaport in the world outside East Asia, has an important partnership with Ho Chi Minh City.

The City of Rotterdam and Ho Chi Minh City can learn from each other in terms of port development and water management, especially in relation to the sustainable urban development of Thu Duc City.

Stork stated that the Netherlands has affirmed its desire to boost the relationship between the government, businesses, and people, with connections developed on the basis of a common spirit of openness, diversity, and overcoming challenges together as both sides seek sustainable solutions for the future.