Creating a new vitality and foundation for Vietnam - Netherlands relations

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha receives Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Vietnam Kees van Baar - Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi

The Deputy Prime Minister highly appreciated the active activities of Ambassador Kees van Baar, contributing to the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the Netherlands, in which the two sides are strategic partners in the fields of climate change adaptation, water management, sustainable agriculture , and food security.

With the support of Dutch partners, the Vietnamese Government has issued the Mekong Delta Regional Planning with advanced approaches to climate change response and sustainable water resource management; and established a coordination and regional development mechanism.

In the coming time, the two countries need to expand the scope of cooperation, thereby raising the level, creating vitality, and a foundation for cooperation on the basis of trust and efficiency.

Deputy Prime Minister highly appreciated Ambassador Kees van Baar's active activities, contributing to the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the Netherlands - Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi

Thanking the Deputy Prime Minister for taking the time to meet him, Ambassador Kees van Baar recalled the impression of the King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand when he met and discussed with the Deputy Prime Minister on issues related to green transition, renewable energy, water resources management and climate change response, on the sidelines of the United Nations Global Water Conference, March 2023.

Along with traditional cooperation areas in climate change response, water resources, and environmental protection, Mr. Kees van Baar said that Vietnam and the Netherlands also have great potential in new areas such as renewable energy and carbon market formation.

Currently, Dutch enterprises are very interested in the renewable energy development orientation in Vietnam's Power Plan VIII and wish to be facilitated to implement a number of pilot projects on rooftop solar power and offshore wind power. In addition, the Netherlands is ready to support and provide technical advice on policy development, governance, technology transfer, governance, and mobilization of green financial resources for Vietnam's equitable energy transition roadmap.

Deputy Prime Minister discussed with Ambassador Kees van Baar about cooperation directions in offshore sand mining, landslide prevention, wetland ecosystem conservation, environmental protection... in Vietnam - Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi

Talking to Ambassador Kees van Baar, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the space for developing renewable energy (solar power, wind power) has been expanded many times in the Power Plan VIII with many new mechanisms such as: Self-production, self-consumption; immediately converting power sources using fossil fuels to wind power, solar power or using green fuels (green hydrogen, green ammonia); exporting renewable energy. The problem is the capacity of enterprises, the feasibility of technology, and economic efficiency.

The Deputy Prime Minister welcomed Dutch partners and businesses to participate in the pilot program of installing rooftop solar power in government buildings, schools, hospitals, public works, private homes, etc., thereby perfecting the legal framework, support mechanisms, policies on electricity purchase and sale, equipment, technology transfer, etc.

With experience and technology in developing offshore wind power, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested that Dutch enterprises participate in the pilot project in Vietnam to contribute to perfecting the criteria for selecting investors; research and technology transfer mechanisms; evaluating economic efficiency; and ensuring national security and safety.

"Renewable power projects need to ensure synchronization between electricity production, transmission and consumption; the balance and stability of the power system", the Deputy Prime Minister noted and suggested that "on the basis of the planning of the Mekong Delta region, Dutch partners and enterprises can study investment options in renewable energy projects, in sync with the formation of large industrial parks in the region"; at the same time, promote the role of the state in leading, supporting and accompanying enterprises in specific projects to realize the set goals.

The Deputy Prime Minister also discussed with Ambassador Kees van Baar about cooperation directions in offshore sand mining, landslide prevention, wetland ecosystem conservation, environmental protection... in Vietnam.

Source: https://dttg.baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/tao-luong-sinh-khi-nen-mong-moi-cho-quan-he-viet-nam-ha-lan-358083.html