Vietnam key partner of the Netherlands in Indo-Pacific region
VOV.VN - Vietnam is a prioritized and important partner of the Netherlands in the Indo-Pacific region, said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte during talks held with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh on November 2 in Hanoi.
During the course of talks held immediately after the welcome ceremony for the Dutch PM, PM Chinh highlighted the great significance of the visit by PM Rutte on the occasion of both nations celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as a means of contributing to further pushing and deepening the joint comprehensive partnership.
For his part, PM Rutte expressed his joy at his third official visit to Vietnam and meeting with PM Chinh again after nearly a year since the latter’s official visit to the Netherlands back in December, 2022.
The two PMs held a wide-ranging discussion on the socio-economic development situation of each country, as well as measures aimed at promoting bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual concern.
The Dutch PM displayed his impression of positive Vietnamese achievements in the process of recovery and socio-economic development after the COVID-19 pandemic and since his 2019 visit to the nation.
Both leaders hailed the joint efforts made in realising commitments and co-operation agreements since the official visit to the Netherlands by PM Chinh in December, 2022, with delegation exchanges and co-operation mechanisms continuing to be conducted with a number of new collaboration documents being signed.
They agreed to enhance political trust by intensifying high-level delegation exchanges, continuing to effectively deploy bilateral co-operation mechanisms and agreements, as well as establishing new mechanisms aimed at deepening bilateral ties.
Highlighting economics and trade as an important pillar in both nations' relationship, the two sides concurred to continue to fully and effectively implement the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
PM Chinh used the occasion to welcome a delegation of nearly 30 leading Dutch high-tech enterprises accompanying PM Rutte, which will help concretise co-operation opportunities between the two countries. PM Chinh also requested that the Netherlands support the EC’s removal of the IUU “yellow card” placed against Vietnamese seafood exports.
He therefore proposed that the Netherlands swiflty ratify the Vietnam - EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and encourage Dutch businesses to promote investment in the Vietnamese market in the Netherlands' strong fields, such as high technology, seaports, and strategic infrastructure.
PM Rutte told his host that Dutch enterprises greatly value the country’s political stability and favourable investment-business environment. He agreed to accelerate the ratification of the EVIPA, applauded Vietnamese efforts to promote sustainable fisheries development, and pledged to work alongside other EU members to support the nation in the field.
Host and guest consented to continue expanding the framework of their strategic partnership in climate change response, water management, and sustainable agriculture, thereby further contributing to joint efforts in tackling global challenges. In addition, the two sides will seek to bolster collaboration in the fields of offshore sand mining, green economic development, the circular economy, climate change-resilient urban development, high-quality human resources training for climate change response, as well as water resources management, irrigation, and natural disaster prevention.
The Vietnamese Government leader suggested that the European nation and G7 countries support the Vietnamese in technology, finance, human resources, and institutional improvement to effectively implement the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), while simultaneously setting up a trilateral co-operation mechanism on agriculture as a means of dealing with global food security problems.
PM Rutte affirmed that his side will assist Vietnam in carrying out the Mekong Delta planning for the 2021 to 2030 period, with a vision towards 2050, as well as the plan on sustainable agricultural transition in the region. This will be done alongside completing the legal framework regarding water management.
The two sides emphasized that science-technology and innovation represent breakthrough areas and agreed to optimise the potential for bilateral ties in high technology, electronic circuit and semiconductor device production, digital platform and telecommunications ecosystem building, digital transformation, and human resources development in these areas.
The two countries will expand linkages in promising areas such as exploration and sustainable exploitation of important minerals, defence-security, customs, shipping, logistics, and people-to-people exchanges.
The Dutch PM described the Vietnamese community in his country as an important part of the host society, pledging to continue creating favourable conditions for the community as they seek to successfully integrate themselves and act as a bridge for bilateral friendship.
During the talks, the two PMs compared notes on a number of regional and international issues of shared concern. They agreed to continue to co-ordinate with and offer mutual support at international and regional organisations, especially the UN and within the ASEAN-EU partnership framework.
PM Rutte hailed Vietnam's external policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation, and settlement of disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of international law.
PM Chinh congratulated the Netherlands on becoming a development partner of ASEAN, expressing his hope that the European country will engage more deeply in and offer more initiatives for the further enhancement of the ASEAN-EU relations, as well as the ASEAN-Netherlands relationship.
Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides voiced support for the ensuring of maritime and aviation security and safety, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as the negotiations on a substantial and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China.
After the conclusion of talks, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of four co-operation agreements among ministries, sectors, and associations of the two countries on areas of sustainable exploration and exploitation of important minerals, customs, investment, and trade.
