Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse will visit the Netherlands from July 9-11 to reinforce and strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership on climate change adaptation, water management, sustainable agriculture and food security.

A meeting of Vietnam-Netherlands inter government on climate change adaptation and water management

The visit takes place at a time when Vietnam and the Netherlands are enjoying comprehensive developments in their relations, setting a model for dynamic and effective cooperation between a Southeast Asian country and a European nation.

The two countries have defined climate change adaptation, water management, agriculture, energy, sea-based economy, and logistics services as prioritised cooperative fields.

The bilateral trade has continuously increased in recent years with Vietnam recording trade surplus. The Netherlands is now one of the biggest export markets of Vietnam in Europe. 

In the first five months of 2017, two-way trade hit 2.9 billion USD. Vietnam mainly exported seafood, vegetables and fruits, cashew nut, coffee, peppercorns, rice, chemical products, and plastics, while importing machines, equipment, automobile spare parts, and dairy and pharmaceutical products.

The Netherlands is among the largest European investors in Vietnam, ranking 11th out of the 119 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 287 projects worth 7.7 billion USD.

After establishing diplomatic ties with Vietnam in 1973, the Netherlands began providing non-refundable official development assistance (ODA) for the Southeast Asian country, mainly in humanitarian activities, education-training, and healthcare.

From January 2014, the Netherlands shifted its relations with Vietnam to “trade partnership” with a focus on promoting bilateral trade and investment.

In 2010, the two sides established a strategic partnership on climate change adaptation and water management. Later in 2014, they signed a strategic partnership agreement on sustainable agriculture and food security.

Tertiary education and transport also play a crucial role in the bilateral cooperation.

Vietnamese and Dutch localities have also coordinated to mitigate the impacts of climate change, build green urban areas, provide clean water and improve waste treatment as well as develop infrastructure, public transport, and energy.

Nearly 20,600 Vietnamese are living the Netherlands, according to Statistics Netherlands.

VNA