Dutch PM praises Vietnam’s development
(VOV) - Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, has spoken highly of Vietnam’s socio-economic development, especially in regards to reducing poverty, boosting international integration, and dealing with the impact of the global financial crisis.
While receiving Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai in Amsterdam on November 26, PM Mark Rutte acknowledged Vietnam’s increasing role in the region, multilateral forums like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the wider world.
He said he believes that as a coordinator of ASEAN-EU relations, Vietnam will be able to contribute further to the advancement of the ASEAN-EU relationship.
The Netherlands will accelerate the ratification of the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement as well as the negotiations for a Vietnam-EU free trade agreement, he said.
Deputy PM Hai thanked the Netherlands for providing Vietnam with official development assistance (ODA) through programs like the Facility for Infrastructure Development (ORIO) and the Nationwide Independent College of Higher Education (NICHE).
Hai also took the opportunity to convey PM Nguyen Tan Dung’s congratulations to Rutte on his re-election as Dutch PM and invite him to visit Vietnam in the future.
PM Rutte accepted the invitation with pleasure.
Both host and guest expressed their delight at the development of bilateral relationship and their fruitful cooperation across all fields.
However, the potential of the relationship has yet to be fully realized, they said, proposing both sides enhance interactions related to climate change responses, water resource management, agriculture, energy, and the marine economy.
They also concurred on encouraging the exchanges of high-ranking delegations to facilitate mutual cross-border investment and prepare for 2013’s 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties.