Vietnam and the Netherlands are natural partners.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha: The 50-year journey of Vietnam-Netherlands diplomatic relations is a continuation of the first contacts between the two nations when Dutch merchant fleets docked at Hoi An port (Vietnam), 400 years ago - Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi

Attending the ceremony were Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Dutch Special Envoy for Climate, leaders of several ministries, sectors, overseas Vietnamese, Dutch friends who love Vietnam, officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands...

The Deputy Prime Minister shared that he personally always had special feelings and impressions for the Netherlands, the "land of tulips" with windmills next to canals, winding around peaceful villages. There are also masterpieces by the genius painter Van Gogh or the passionate "orange whirlwind" with the world's top football players such as Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Baasten... And the great water control works that demonstrate the resilience of the Dutch people, who not only know how to conquer but also know how to live in harmony with nature.

"Above all, that beauty lies in the warmth and hospitality of the Dutch people," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

The celebration was attended by a large number of overseas Vietnamese, Dutch friends who love Vietnam, officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands... - Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the 50-year journey of Vietnam-Netherlands diplomatic relations is a continuation of the first contacts between the two peoples when Dutch merchant fleets docked at Hoi An port (Vietnam), 400 years ago. Every Vietnamese person always remembers the image of the Dutch people "loving each other", opposing war, and supporting and assisting the Dutch people during the years of fighting for independence and national unification.

The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed: With many similarities, both being countries heavily affected by climate change, the will to be self-reliant, self-resilient, and determined to overcome difficulties for development have helped Vietnam and the Netherlands become "natural partners" . The two countries share the vision and awareness of responding to global challenges, laying the foundation for establishing a Strategic Partnership on climate change response and water management in 2010 and a Strategic Partnership on sustainable agriculture and food security in 2014.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony - Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi

After half a century, Vietnam and the Netherlands have become important and priority partners of each other in the region. The agreement of the two countries' leaders to upgrade bilateral relations to Comprehensive Partnership in 2019 marked an important milestone in the 50-year journey of nurturing and developing the Vietnam-Netherlands relationship, demonstrating the strong determination of the two governments to promote comprehensive cooperation, expand cooperation in potential fields, not only including economics, trade, development cooperation but also key areas of climate change response, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, circular economy... to move towards sustainable development and join hands to effectively respond to global challenges.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands - Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi

The Deputy Prime Minister assessed that the Netherlands is affirming its position as a leading European partner in investment and trade in Vietnam. The presence of many large corporations and enterprises along with the typical "entrepreneurial mindset" has contributed to making Dutch-branded products a part of the daily life of Vietnamese people such as Heineken beer, Philips electronic products, FrieslandCampina dairy products, and Unilever daily consumer goods...

Vietnamese products are also increasingly present in the Netherlands, such as longan, fabric, or the expectation that Vinfast electric cars will roll on the streets of Amsterdam.

Along with that, the beauty of nature, culture and people in the Netherlands as well as Vietnam has attracted the interest, desire and experience of people of the two countries.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that in the future, the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and the Netherlands is facing many advantages and great opportunities brought about by the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and the Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Vietnam will be a bridge between the Netherlands and Southeast Asia and Asia.

"What is emerging in the Netherlands such as green streets, people riding bicycles, circular economy, converting energy from brown to green... are things that Vietnam desires, and things that Dutch businesses need to aim for," the Deputy Prime Minister said, believing that the Vietnam-Netherlands relationship will increasingly develop comprehensively, deeply, and effectively. The two countries will accompany each other on the path of green growth, low-carbon economy, and circular economy.

Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/viet-nam-ha-lan-la-nhung-doi-tac-tu-nhien-cua-nhau-360121.html