Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Elsbeth Akkerman (Photo: VNA)

At a reception for the Netherlands Ambassador to Vietnam Elsbeth Akkerman on Friday, Prime Minister Chinh asked the Dutch government and businesses to help Vietnam soon access COVID-19 vaccine supplies through different forms like borrowing or ceding COVID-19 vaccines, medicines, and medical supplies. The Prime Minister said after one year in operation, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement has resulted in great socio-economic achievements. The Netherlands is Vietnam’s 2^nd largest trade partner and largest ODA provider in Europe. He urged the Dutch Parliament to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement and support the removal of yellow card on Vietnam’s fishery products. Mr. Chinh reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to creating favorable conditions for foreign investors including those from the EU and the Netherlands.

Ambassador Elsbeth Akkerman said the Netherlands would present Vietnam respirators and other medical equipment worth 1.9 million USD and promised to support Vietnam in the fight against COVID-19. The Ambassador said the Netherlands supported ASEAN’s view on the East Sea issue and pursued peace, stability, security, and safety of navigation and aviation and settlement of disputes via peaceful means in line with international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.