(VOVworld) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received the new Norwegian ambassador to Vietnam Siren Gjerme Eriksen in Hanoi on Tuesday. Prime Minister Dung called on the two countries to increase cooperation in politics and diplomacy and support each other at international forums, particularly the UN. He said he hoped Norway would continue its ODA for Vietnam in climate change response and natural disaster prevention. He asked both sides to boost cooperation in science and technology, healthcare, education, culture, and tourism. The Vietnamese government leader praised Norway’s role in boosting negotiations on the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and said he hoped the agreement would bring about practical benefits, contributing to bolstering bilateral cooperation in investment and trade.

The Norwegian ambassador pledged her utmost to implement agreements signed between the two countries and promote new cooperative programs in trade, investment, tourism, information technology, telecommunications, and high-technology. She said Norway deemed it important to boost cooperation with Vietnam in coping with climate change and rising sea levels and hoped that Vietnam would support Norway in promoting cooperation with other ASEAN countries.