Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway Erling Rimestad. Photo: VNA/Van Diep

Hang said Vietnam hopes to further bolster economic cooperation with Norway through encouraging and attracting Norwegian firms to invest in Vietnam in the fields of renewable energy, green transition, circular economy, maritime economy, shipbuilding, green sea transport, and logistics.

The Deputy FM proposed that Norway and the European Free Trade Association, which consists of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, speed up the negotiations and signing of a free trade agreement with Vietnam on the basis of harmonized interests, thus creating breakthroughs in bilateral trade and investment collaboration.

She asked for Norway's assistance to Vietnamese sailors to work on Norwegian-flagged vessels and Vietnamese workers to work seasonally in the country.

Both sides agreed to coordinate closely and support each other at UN agencies and organizations, while enhancing cooperation between ASEAN and Norway. They underlined the significance of ensuring maritime and aviation freedom as well as peace and security at sea, and respecting international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.