The PM said his visit to the European country aims to elevate the relations between the two countries, including cooperation with Amsterdam, especially in the context that the two countries will celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2023.

He spoke highly of the good friendship and cooperation between Hanoi and Amsterdam, saying that the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted is a symbol of the friendship between the two cities.

Chinh expressed his impression on Amsterdam's achievements in economic, cultural and education development, and in solving urban environmental challenges. 

He suggested Amsterdam authorities promote cooperation with localities of Vietnam, especially with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, focusing on the fields of investment, environmental protection, circular economy, urban planning, people-to-people exchange, and tourism. 

In the context that Vietnam and the Netherlands enter a new stage of development based on the spirit of win-win cooperation, Amsterdam and Vietnamese localities need to build new cooperation frameworks to further develop the bilateral ties in a more practical and effective manner, the Vietnamese leader said. 

For her part, Halsema said she believes that PM Chinh’s visit open a more effective development period for the relations between the two countries as well as between Amsterdam and Vietnamese localities.

Amsterdam and Hanoi have partnered in many practical cooperation projects in recent times, she said, adding that Amsterdam wishes to expand cooperation with Hanoi in areas that Amsterdam has strengths such as energy conversion, waste and urban flooding treatment, urban planning towards smart and sustainable development.

She expressed her concern about the challenges related to climate change, including rising sea level that localities in the Mekong Delta are facing, affirming her willingness to cooperate and share experience with Vietnam in these fields.

Mayor Halsema expressed her desire to visit Vietnam at the invitation of PM Chinh, and said that she is willing to receive Hanoi and HCM City leaders in Amsterdam for discussing specific cooperation projects. 

On the occasion, PM Chinh received a number of leaders of Dutch businesses.

PM Chinh meets Vietnamese community in Netherlands

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hailed the achievements of the Vietnamese community in the Netherlands, one of the largest Vietnamese communities in Europe at his meeting with representatives of the community on December 11 (local time) as part of his visit to the European country. 

The PM said the community has become an important bridge connecting the two countries, helping bring Vietnamese goods to the Netherlands and other markets in Europe. 

He hoped that the Vietnamese community will keep growing, fulfill their citizen duties in the host country, and become an exemplary community and the pride of Vietnam.

PM Chinh took the occasion to inform the overseas Vietnamese about the country’s national protection, construction and development, affirming that “our country has never had such opportunities, potential, position and international prestige like today”.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Pham Viet Anh said that the more than 25,000-strong Vietnamese community in the Netherlands is well integrated in the host society, have stable living conditions and receives positive assessment from the local government.

In particular, the community always looks to the homeland, preserves the national cultural identity through opening Vietnamese language classes, and actively participates in investment, business, education and technology transfer with domestic agencies and organisations.

Vice president of the Vietnamese Association in the Netherlands Ngo Bich Ngoc expressed her delight as Vietnam is working to expand the teaching and honouring of the Vietnamese language around the world.

She hoped that the Government, relevant ministries and agencies further improve the form and method of Vietnamese language teaching and learning following the conditions of Vietnamese communities around the world.

She suggested the Government open more forums and common communication channels so that overseas Vietnamese around the world and those in the country can exchange with each other, contributing to the national construction./ VNA