Ceremony marks 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Netherlands diplomatic ties

Addressing the event, Prof. Dao Xuan Hoc, President of the Vietnam-Netherlands Friendship and Cooperation Association, said that over the past 45 years, the relationship between Vietnam and the Netherlands has grown in a dynamic and effective manner across many fields, benefiting both sides.

Currently, the Netherlands is one of the largest European trade partners and investors in Vietnam, with over 8 billion USD in investment and nearly 8 billion USD in two-way trade revenue recorded for 2017.

With its impressive economic development and efficient support of the Netherlands, Vietnam has progressed from a recipient of development assistance from the Netherlands to become a trade partner of the European country, a demonstrative example of the effectiveness of bilateral affiliation, the professor noted. 

Prof. Hoc added that over the past five years, the Vietnam-Netherlands Friendship and Cooperation Association has succeeded in launching many events and activities aimed at strengthening mutual understanding and partnership between the two nations.

He said he hopes to continue receiving cooperation and support from the Dutch Embassy in Vietnam.

For her part, Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam, Nienke Trooster, said that Vietnam is one of the most prioritised countries in the Netherlands’ soft loan provision. 

Currently, the Netherlands is focusing on investing in Vietnam in a number of key areas such as trade, the private sector, water management, agriculture, and climate change, said the diplomat.

At the ceremony, a collection of extracts from 17 Dutch documentary films on the war in Vietnam were presented to Vietnam and screened for the first time.