The visiting Danish diplomat made the statement at a press briefing in Hanoi on March 28 to announce the results of his talks with the Vietnamese government as well as Denmark's 2007 plans in Vietnam.

Environment protection is one of three priorities in Vietnam's socio-economic development plan in the next five years and Denmark will provide assistance in this matter, he said.

Mr Federspiel stressed that the high economic growth scored by Denmark over the past ten years have had no impacts on energy consumption thanks to the use of renewable sources of energy.

The diplomat pointed out four main areas in which Denmark and Vietnam have great potential for cooperation in politics, development assistance, economy and culture.

He announced that an Inter-governmental Committee between the two countries has been established, with the aim of promoting cooperation in investment, economy and technology transfer.

The co-chairmen of the committee met on March 29 to work out a schedule for the first meeting of the committee.