 The Netherlands's PM Mark Rutte hosts a welcome ceremony for PM Pham Minh Chinh in The Hague on December 12, 2022. (photo: Vu Khuyen/VOV) |
Welcoming PM Chinh’s official visit, PM Rutte stated that the Netherlands attaches importance to Vietnam’s important stature and role in its policy towards the Indo-Pacific region. They concurred in continuing to effectively implement the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and developing the two countries into transit centres for goods in their respective regions.
PM Chinh proposed the Netherlands to soon ratify the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA); encourage Dutch businesses to step up investment in the fields they are strong at in Vietnam such as seaport, shipbuilding, logistics, and infrastructure connectivity; support the European Commission’s removal of its IUU “yellow card” warning against Vietnam’s aquatic product exports; and assist the Southeast Asian nation to build seaports, airports, and innovation centres. The Vietnamese Government leader also suggested the two sides ink a labour cooperation agreement soon.
 The Netherlands's PM Mark Rutte and PM Pham Minh Chinh hold talks. (photo: Vu Khuyen/ VOV) |
The two leaders agreed to intensify cooperation within the framework of the strategic partnerships in climate change adaptation and sustainable agriculture and expand cooperation in security-defence, culture-tourism, transport, science-technology, and education-training while continuing to support each other at multilateral forums like the ASEAN-EU cooperation, the Asia-Europe Meeting, and the United Nations.
