Vietnam and the Netherlands have agreed to upgrade their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive partnership, on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of the two nations’ diplomatic ties.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte joined talks in Hanoi on Tuesday, as part of the latter’s one-day official visit to the Southeast Asian country.

The trip was made on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of the two nations’ diplomatic ties, which were established on April 9, 1973.

During the conversation, PM Phuc stressed that Vietnam always values its relations with the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is currently Vietnam’s second-largest European trade partner, with two-way trade recorded at US$7.8 billion in 2018, and largest European investor, with a total registered capital of $9.55 billion.    

In response, PM Rutte underlined that the Dutch government and business community want to continue bolstering all-round relationship with Vietnam, adding that representatives of more than 70 leading Dutch firms also joined him during his visit. 

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the active, effective, and dynamic development of Vietnam-Netherlands ties, believing that there is still room for further cooperation.

They consented on elevating the two nation’s relationship to a comprehensive partnership to boost bilateral collaboration in all fields.

The two sides pledged to create favorable conditions for the two nations’ enterprises to enhance coordination in such fields as agriculture, economic matters, and smart city development. 

The Dutch premier expressed his support for the early signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), which help promote global trade liberalization between Vietnam and EU member states, including the Netherlands.

Focus will also be directed on ties in climate change adaptation, water management, sustainable agriculture, and food security.

The two heads of government vowed to offer close and mutual support at multilateral forums, namely the United Nations and the ASEAN- EU cooperation. 

They also discussed the maintenance of peace in the East Vietnam Sea and settlement of disputes via peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

Following their talks, the leaders signed a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation in the Mekong Delta, and issued a joint statement on the outcomes of the official visit.

PM Rutte also met with Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong and National Assembly chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, as well as attended a sustainable fashion show organized by the Hanoi People’s Committee and Dutch Embassy before concluding his trip on the same day.

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