Vietnam-Norway: Green cooperation, green future

Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken delivers a welcome speech at the 210th Anniversary of the National Day of the Kingdom of Norway. (Photo: Ha Phuong)

On the morning of May 16, in Hanoi, Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken chaired the ceremony to celebrate the 210th anniversary of the National Day of the Kingdom of Norway (May 17, 1814 - May 17, 2024). Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang attended and delivered a speech at the ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Hilde Solbakken shared: “We highly value the close cooperation between Norway and Vietnam in finding solutions to some of the most pressing global challenges, such as combating climate change and ensuring clean and healthy oceans. I am proud to say that cooperation between our two countries in these areas continues to strengthen.”

The Ambassador said that Vietnam and Norway are working together towards the goal of green energy transition through the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), and will coordinate more closely in the field of green maritime.

Joint efforts towards a more circular economy show promise for better waste management systems that benefit both people and the planet. Collaboration in sustainable mariculture will also contribute to job creation and food security.

Ambassador Hilde Solbakken affirmed that Norway and Vietnam are both open economies that are heavily dependent on trade. Norway is a strong supporter of open markets and rules-based trade.

“We hope that this year the Free Trade Agreement between the European Free Trade Association - EFTA and Vietnam will make progress,” the Ambassador expressed.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang emphasized that Vietnam and Norway are both peace-loving countries, striving to achieve sustainable development goals, associated with protecting the natural environment, ensuring social welfare for all people, contributing to maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the two regions and around the world .

Vietnam and Norway share a number of development priorities in the fields of renewable energy, marine economy, science and technology, innovation, green economic development, circularity, and reducing emissions to “zero” by 2050.

“Only by developing science and technology and close international cooperation, fully exploiting the potential of each country, can we together achieve sustainable development goals,” the Deputy Minister affirmed.

Delegates attending the 210th Anniversary of the National Day of the Kingdom of Norway. (Photo: Ha Phuong)

According to Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang, last year, Vietnam and Norway continued to maintain a positive momentum of cooperation. Vietnam is Norway's second largest trading partner in ASEAN (after Singapore). Two-way trade turnover reached over 450 million USD, of which Norway's seafood exports to Vietnam reached over 250 million USD, an increase of 16% (of which salmon accounted for 30%).

The senior leaders of both countries expressed their support for the early completion of negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between the EFTA bloc (including Norway) and Vietnam to connect Vietnam's market of over 100 million people with the EFTA. Norway currently has 56 direct investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of nearly 200 million USD, ranking 40th out of 149 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

To promote the great potential, the two countries are actively coordinating to build a new framework for cooperation in the field of sustainable marine economy and renewable energy between the two countries, supporting Vietnam in implementing the Joint Statement on JETP with the group of international partners, including Norway.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-na-uy-hop-tac-xanh-tuong-lai-xanh-314579.html