The Prime Ministers will discuss specific orientations to boost cooperation in economics, trade, investment, climate change adaptation, and other sectors. The visit is of great significance in enhancing bilateral relations and improving awareness of the UN agenda to implement millennium development goals and sustainable development goals.

 Friendly relations and fine cooperation

Vietnam and Norway established diplomatic relations on November 25, 1971. Over the past 40 years bilateral relations have grown in politics, economics, culture, and society. The two countries have exchanged delegations at different levels.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg met on the sidelines of the 3^rd Nuclear Security Summit in the Netherlands last March and of the 10^th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 10) in Milan, Italy, last October. The two countries have effectively organized cooperative mechanisms, including political consultation meetings at the Deputy Foreign Minister level and Human Rights Dialogues between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

Trade between Vietnam and Norway generated revenues of 307 million USD last year, up 27% from the previous year. Vietnam exports to Norway garments, textiles, footwear, wood furniture, and cashew nuts, and imports from Norway machines and fishery products. Vietnam and the European Free Trade Area (EFTA), consisting of Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, began FTA negotiations in May, 2012, concluding their 11^th negotiation last January in Ho Chi Minh city.

Norway currently has 30 investment projects in Vietnam totaling 120 million USD and ranks 37^th of the 101 countries and territories invested in Vietnam. Some 40 Norwegian companies are doing business in Ho Chi Minh city, Hanoi, Vung Tau, Khanh Hoa, Binh Duong, and Hai Phong. They specialize in wood processing, construction materials, interior decoration, agro-forestry, fishing, and communications. Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Siren Gjerme Eriksen talked recently about Vietnam-Norway diplomatic ties: “I think when we look back on the relationship between Norway and Vietnam during more than 40 years, we see that the relationship has deepened and grown in many directions. In 40 years, Vietnam has made great strikes forward in terms of poverty reduction, development, and integration in the region and in the global arena. In recent years, Norway has particularly focused on technical capacity building and cooperation. We are working together with Vietnam in climate change issues and with institutions, research institutes, and universities.”

Promoting Vietnam-Norway cooperative relations

Vietnam and Norway resumed relations after signing a framework agreement on development cooperation in October, 1996. Norway has provided Vietnam 320 million USD in funding and incentive credit for water supply, solid waste, and waste water treatment programs.

Norway has always supported Vietnam’s renewal, poverty reduction, and global integration efforts. The two countries have worked closely at international forums such as the UN and the WTO.

2015 is the final year for implementing the UN Millennium Development Goals and UN members will soon discuss a post-2015 development agenda consisting of sustainable development goals. Ambassador Eriksen says it will be part of Prime Minister Erna Solberg’s agenda in Vietnam. “Prime Minister Solberg is visiting Vietnam to strengthen the already very good relations we have with your country. At the same time, she is also coming here as the co-chair of the UN Secretary General of Millennium Development Goals. She comes to Vietnam also because of the important achievements Vietnam has made towards the MDGs and together with Vietnam, hopefully, work to continue those efforts on the global scale.”

Norway has helped Vietnam realize its socio-economic development plan and backed Vietnam’s Green One UN House Project.