PM Dung and his wife will visit the Netherlands from September 27 to October 1, Uzbekistan from October 2-4 and Ukraine from October 4-6 at the invitation of the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Ruttee, Uzbekistani Prime Minister Shavkat Mirzieev and Ukraine Prime Minister Mykola Azarov.

*** Vietnam and the Netherlands have recently established their strategic partnership to cope with climate change and water management and focused on cooperating in five key fields of environmental protection, water management, agriculture, marine-based economy, oil and gas and logistics.

The Netherlands is Europe’s biggest investor in Vietnam with 153 projects worth US$5.6 billion as well as its important trade partner. Two-way trade turnover between the two countries reached nearly US$2 billion in 2010 and more than US$900 million in the first half of this year. The Netherlands is committed to providing more ODA for Vietnam with a focus on water management, food hygiene and medicine.

During Mr Dung’s coming visit, the two sides will discuss measures to boost cooperation in five key fields and to accelerate the implementation of the strategic partnership agreement on climate change and water management. They will also sign some important documents concerning environmental protection, agriculture, husbandry and oil and gas.

*** On Vietnam’s traditional relationship with Uzbekistan, economic and trade relations between the two countries remain modest with bilateral trade staying at US$18.6 million in 2010 and US$15.56 million in the first half of this year.

It is expected that the two sides will discuss measures to foster economic, trade and investment relations, especially in oil and gas and agriculture.

*** On the occasion of the Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych’s visit to Vietnam in March 2011, the two countries signed a joint deceleration on establishing comprehensive cooperation partnership and other documents to strengthen bilateral relations.

However, two-way trade turnover between the two countries remains low and far from matching their potential. It reached US$460 million in 2009, nearly US$260 million in 2010 and US$95 million in the first half of 2011.

By the end of February, 2011, Ukraine had 10 projects operating in Vietnam with a total capitalization of US$23.3 million. Vietnam has invested US$3.36 million in Ukraine, mainly in package and hospitality industries. Currently, around 1,000 Vietnamese students are studying in Ukraine.