(VOVworld) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said Vietnam attaches great importance to promoting friendship and co-operation with the Netherlands, describing it as the role model relationship between Viet Nam and European countries.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (R) and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte. (Photo: VNA)

He made the remarks during talks with his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte on Tuesday while attending the 3^rd Nuclear Security Summit in the Hague. They agreed to maintain leadership visits and discussed concrete measures to improve cooperation in a number of prioritized fields such as climate change and water management, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, seaports, and logistic services. Both sides expressed their determination to quickly conclude a strategic partnership agreement in sustainable agriculture and food security. The two PMs noted that bilateral national defense cooperation has been developing positively and effectively.
PM Dung welcomed the Netherlands’ willingness to make active contribution to peace, stability in the region, including maritime security and safety, and freedom of navigation. They hailed the two countries’ mutual support at elections in the international forums, especially the United Nations. PM Dung asked the Netherlands to continue to support Viet Nam’s efforts to strengthen comprehensive relations with the EU, support the European Commission to sign the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA) with Vietnam, and recognise Vietnam as a market economy as the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) talks are to finalize in 2014. Earlier, PM Dung met Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.