Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has affirmed that Vietnam always treasures the development of friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Denmark, its important partner in Northern Europe and the European Union. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc holds talks with his Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen on October 20 (local time). 

He made the affirmation during talks with his Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen on October 20 on the occasion of his official visit to Denmark and participation in the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 Summit held for the first time in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

Rasmussen spoke highly of Vietnam’s socio-economic performance and commitments to sustainable development and climate change response. He expressed his belief that the visit will boost bilateral comprehensive partnership, stressing that Denmark will continue to be a companion of Vietnam in the near future. 

Both sides expressed their delight at the positive development of bilateral ties, with two-way trade surpassing 660 million USD last year, or a four-fold and two-fold increase from 2005 and 2010, respectively. Denmark’s investment in Vietnam tripled to more than 680 million USD in the past decade. Strategic partnerships across the environment, green growth and energy have also thrived.

Denmark assisted Vietnam in the implementation of the national target programme on climate change response with practical projects nationwide, as well as shared experience in carrying out the national target programme on effective energy use and the national strategy on green growth, and helped Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises adopt measures to effectively use energy, and make smart investment in clean energy and construction of energy-saving buildings. 

The two PMs stressed the need to push forward the effective development of bilateral comprehensive partnership towards the 50th anniversary of bilateral ties in 2021.  

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the Danish government to continue Denmark’s Growth Strategy to Vietnam and encourage Danish firms to boost investment in Vietnam in fields of its strength such as maritime transportation, seaport building, shipbuilding, renewable energy, green technology, animal husbandry, sustainable fishery, food processing, pharmaceuticals, health care and education. 

The host affirmed that Denmark supports the early signing and ratification of the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement to materialize great economic benefits to both sides.

The two sides expressed their satisfaction with the positive outcomes of the roundtable between the Vietnamese PM and leading Danish firms during the stay. 

They discussed continuing strategic projects in the fields of climate change response, vocational training, health care, sustainable agriculture, food processing and clean energy. 

Host and guest agreed to foster closer ties between ASEAN and the EU, and between ASEAN and Denmark. 

The Danish PM committed to supporting efforts to promote peace, stability, cooperation and friendship in the region and the world, including the East Sea, affirming the importance of the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in line with international law. 

The two leaders expressed their determination to reinforce bilateral ties during a meeting with the media later.

Following the talks, they also witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements, including an agreement on low-carbon emission development between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Danish Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate; a strategic  cooperation agreement on sustainable development and food safety between the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Danish Ministry of Environment and Food; a letter of content on food safety in pork value chain between the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Danish Ministry of Environment and Food.

They also saw the signing of a letter of content on strategic partnership between the Vietnamese Ministry of Health and Danish Ministry of Health, another on the second stage of a strategic cooperation project between the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Danish Ministry of Education, and cooperation deals between Denmark’s Grundfos and Dong Nai Plastics JSC, and between Denmark’s Vestas and Vietnam’s N&G Group.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets with Danish Queen

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (centre, right) and his spouse (right) pose for a photo with Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (centre, left) and Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with Queen Margrethe II of Denmark on October 20 during his official visit to the European country and participation in the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Copenhagen Summit 2018.

At the meeting, the Vietnamese leader expressed his pleasure to visit Denmark and spoke highly of the great achievements the Danish people have made under the rule of the Queen.

He thanked the Queen, Royal Family and people of Denmark for their special sentiments given to the Vietnamese people in the struggle for independence and unification in the past as well as in the current national construction and international integration.

The PM affirmed that the Vietnamese Government and people always attach importance to consolidating and enhancing traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Denmark. The close friendly relationship is the foundation for the two countries to deepen their comprehensive partnership in the coming time. He wished to receive the continued support of the Danish Queen and Royal Family.

The Queen expressed her satisfaction with the positive development of the Vietnam-Denmark cooperation in all fields, especially in economy and trade. She thanked the Vietnamese people for their warm welcome for her and Prince Frederik during their visits to Vietnam in 2009 and 2011, respectively.

The Queen said she still keeps deep memories of the trip and is happy to see that the Vietnamese people have attained many achievements on the path of development and integration, asserting her support for the development of the bilateral relationship.

She shared the Royal Family’s special sentiments toward the country, where the Prince had spent his childhood, and sent her sincere regards to the leaders of Vietnam.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc conveyed an invitation of the Vietnamese leaders to visit Vietnam again to the Queen and her Royal Family.

PM meets with Vietnamese expats in Denmark

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse meet with Vietnamese expats in Denmark 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc called at the Vietnamese Embassy in Copenhagen after arriving in the capital of Denmark on October 19 (local time), where he met with the overseas Vietnamese in the European country. 

The Vietnamese expats expressed their joy to meet the PM during his official visit to Denmark. They affirmed that the Vietnamese community in Denmark have maintained close bonds and support each other in integrating into the host society while joining in activities for the homeland. 

PM Phuc asked the Vietnamese expats to play the role as a bridge to promote Vietnam-Denmark cooperation across fields, as well as preserve the culture and tradition of the homeland.

He updated the overseas Vietnamese community on the development of Vietnam in recent time, and stressed that the Vietnamese Government is determined to build a growth-facilitating and action-oriented government of integrity to serve people and businesses. 

The PM emphasized the need for the embassy to better perform economic diplomacy to enhance investment cooperation between the two countries, and stand ready to assist the overseas Vietnamese community.

PM Phuc is in Denmark to attend the Green Growth and the Global Goals (P4G) Summit, and pay an official visit to the European country at the invitation of Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

This is the last leg of his European tour from October 14.

VNA