Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with Dutch Ambassador Elsbeth Akkerman in Hanoi on September 10 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said Vietnam and the Netherlands should keep reinforcing ties in the time ahead during his reception for Dutch Ambassador Elsbeth Akkerman in Hanoi on
September 10.
Akkerman affirmed that the Dutch Government attaches
importance to the two countries’ comprehensive partnership, as well as their strategic
partnerships in climate change response, water management, and sustainable
agriculture, considering these as the solid foundation for continuing to
develop relations between the countries’ Governments and business circles in an
extensive and effective manner for the sake of "the economies, human, and the planet”.
Appreciating the Vietnamese Government and the PM’s attention
to EU businesses, including Dutch firms, she held that both countries are
holding numerous opportunities and prospects for enhancing cooperation.
She expressed her hope that the two countries will keep
effectively implementing the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and soon
carry out the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), thereby
giving an important impulse to Vietnam’s relations with the EU and the Netherlands.
The diplomat also noted the attention of EU investors,
including Dutch ones, to seaport and logistics industries, voicing her belief
that cooperation projects in these sectors will help reduce transportation
costs and increase the flow of goods from Vietnam to European nations. She added that the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is handling about 60
percent of Vietnamese goods exported to Europe.
Akkerman informed that the Dutch Government will
present ventilators and medical supplies worth some 43 billion VND (1.9 million
USD) to Vietnam, and the Netherlands will continue accompanying Vietnam in the
battle against COVID-19.
Thanking the Dutch Government and businesses for their
precious assistance, PM Chinh asked the ambassador to propose the Government,
relevant agencies, and enterprises of the Netherlands keep supporting Vietnam
to access vaccine sources early via different forms such as lending or donation,
and assist the latter with COVID-19 drugs and medical equipment.
He shared the view that after one year of implementation, the
EVFTA has been creating positive changes to bilateral economic - trade ties,
with the Netherlands currently the second largest trade partner and the biggest
FDI investor from Europe in Vietnam.
The Government leader called on the Dutch parliament to soon
ratify the EVIPA and support the removal of the “yellow card” warning related
to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing for Vietnam’s fishery
sector.
PM Chinh highly valued the Netherlands’
capacity and experience in climate change response, water management, and
sustainable agriculture, and proposed that the two countries strengthen cooperation in
helping Vietnam’s Mekong Delta cope with the sea level rise, land subsidence,
and coastal erosion; develop sustainable agriculture; and expand ties to other
potential fields like human resource training, public - private partnership, and
sea, rail, and air transportation to optimise goods trading and facilitate the
delivery of Vietnam’s seasonal farm produce such as longan and lychee to the
Netherlands and other EU countries.
He reiterated that the Vietnamese Government always creates
optimal conditions for foreign investors, including those from the EU and the
Netherlands, to do business and make investment in Vietnam. The country also
welcomes potential international investors who are interested in the Cai Mep Ha
logistics centre project in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province.
The PM applauded the fruitful bilateral coordination in the
recent past, requesting the two countries continue reinforcing cooperation,
supporting each other at multilateral forums and international organisations, especially
the United Nations, and working closely in regional and global issues in the
coming time.
Regarding the East Sea issue, Ambassador Akkerman said the
Netherlands supports ASEAN’s viewpoint and wish to maintain peace,
stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight, and to
settle disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including
the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
On this occasion, PM Chinh asked the ambassador to convey his
invitation to Dutch PM Mark Rutte to visit Vietnam in the near future./.