(VOVWORLD) - Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte has concluded his official visit to Vietnam. During the visit, the two countries upgraded bilateral ties to a comprehensive partnership, a new milestone in their cooperation.
 PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Dutch PM Mark Rutte co-host a press conference following their talks in Hanoi on April 9, 2019. |
Vietnam and the Netherlands established diplomatic ties in 1973. In recent years, the Netherlands has considered Vietnam a priority partner. Both have established a model of dynamic and effective relations between Vietnam and a European country.
Firm foundation to upgrade ties
Prime Minister Rutte had a tight schedule on his one-day visit to Vietnam Tuesday. At his meetings with Vietnamese Party, State and government leaders, the two sides agreed that political trust is the foundation on which to expand bilateral ties. The bilateral Strategic Partnership in Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management and the Strategic Partnership in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security are the pillars of the bilateral comprehensive partnership.
Both countries face the challenges of climate change, saline intrusion, land erosion, and difficulties in sustainable use and management of water resources which is showing their economic growth.
During the Dutch Prime Minister’s visit, the Netherlands shared with Vietnam its experience dealing with these problems. The two sides agreed to further cooperation in promoting the sustainable development of the Mekong River Delta, optimization of the outcomes of the Strategic Partnership in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, further cooperation in livestock production, safe food management, and smart agriculture. 70 leading Dutch companies accompanied the Prime Minister to Vietnam and several agreements were signed.
New chapter in bilateral ties
The Comprehensive Partnership will pave the way for the rapid growth of bilateral cooperation in several fields. At a joint press conference in Hanoi on Tuesday, Prime Minister Rutte stressed the many similarities the two countries share. They are both strategically located and both have extensive deltas. They both have strong agriculture exports. The Prime Minister said these similarities are the foundation for upgrading bilateral ties.
During the Dutch Prime Minister’s visit, the two countries discussed ways to strengthen political, diplomatic trade, and investment ties, particularly in agriculture, climate change response, water management, and food security.
With leaders of Dutch ministries and leading Dutch enterprises accompanying the Prime Minister, the Dutch government has demonstrated it considers Vietnam one of its top partners in the region. Scheduling the visit on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of diplomatic ties is an evidence of the close bond and political trust between the two countries.