A meeting of Vietnam-Netherlands inter government on climate change adaptation and water management (Photo: VNA)The visit takes place at a time when Vietnam andthe Netherlands are enjoying comprehensive developments in their relations, settinga model for dynamic and effective cooperation between a Southeast Asian countryand a European nation.
The two countries have defined climate changeadaptation, water management, agriculture, energy, sea-based economy, and logisticsservices as prioritised cooperative fields.
The bilateral trade has continuously increasedin recent years with Vietnam recording trade surplus. The Netherlands is nowone of the biggest export markets of Vietnam in Europe.
In the first five months of 2017, two-way tradehit 2.9 billion USD. Vietnam mainly exported seafood, vegetables and fruits,cashew nut, coffee, peppercorns, rice, chemical products, and plastics, whileimporting machines, equipment, automobile spare parts, and dairy andpharmaceutical products.
The Netherlands is among the largest Europeaninvestors in Vietnam, ranking 11th out of the 119 countries and territoriesinvesting in Vietnam with 287 projects worth 7.7 billion USD.
After establishing diplomatic ties with Vietnamin 1973, the Netherlands began providing non-refundable official developmentassistance (ODA) for the Southeast Asian country, mainly in humanitarianactivities, education-training, and healthcare.
From January 2014, the Netherlands shifted itsrelations with Vietnam to “trade partnership” with a focus on promotingbilateral trade and investment.
In 2010, the two sides established a strategicpartnership on climate change adaptation and water management. Later in 2014, they signed a strategicpartnership agreement on sustainable agriculture and food security.
Tertiary education and transport also play acrucial role in the bilateral cooperation.
Vietnamese and Dutch localities have alsocoordinated to mitigate the impacts of climate change, build green urban areas,provide clean water and improve waste treatment as well as developinfrastructure, public transport, and energy.
Nearly 20,600 Vietnamese are living theNetherlands, according to Statistics Netherlands.-VNA
VNA
