Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has a phone call with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

During the phone call, they applauded the positive developments of the friendly cooperation between Vietnam and the Netherlands. Prime Minister Chinh said Mark Rutte's official visit to Vietnam last November contributed to deepening the comprehensive partnership between the two countries and opening up new cooperation opportunities in potential fields, especially high tech, innovation, and mineral exploitation.

Both agreed to work closely to promote the State visit to Vietnam by the King and Queen of the Netherlands; celebrate five years of implementing the Comprehensive Partnership framework and 10 years of implementing the Strategic Partnership framework on sustainable agriculture and food security this year, and 15 years of implementing the Strategic Partnership framework on climate change adaptation and water management next year.

They pledged to continue taking advantage of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and strive to raise bilateral trade turnover to 15 billion USD in the near future.

Prime Minister Chinh proposed that the Netherlands soon ratify EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA); urge the European Commission (EC) to soon remove the IUU "yellow card"; support Vietnam to implement the Mekong Delta Plan for the period 2021-2030, vision 2050; and develop urban areas to respond to climate change in the central coast region.

He proposed that the two countries deepen their defense and security cooperation, especially in shipbuilding, UN peacekeeping training, and fighting terrorism and  organized crime.

Prime Minister Rutte said he will continue to encourage Dutch businesses to invest in Vietnam in high tech, electronic circuit production, semiconductor equipment, seaports, shipbuilding technology, logistics connections, and strategic infrastructure.

He agreed to continue paying attention to and creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to successfully integrate into the Netherlands, becoming a bridge of friendship between the two countries.