Vietnam and the Netherlands recently conducted their second deputy minister-level political consultation in Hanoi, underscoring their dedication to strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors. This significant meeting was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Lê Thị Thu Hằng and her Dutch counterpart Marcel de Vink. The discussions focused on reviewing the progress made in their bilateral relations and celebrated the ongoing enhancements in diplomatic exchanges, economic partnerships, and joint efforts in regional and international forums.
Vietnam expressed its ambitious long-term vision of evolving into an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and achieving the status of a developed, high-income nation by 2045. To realize these goals, Vietnam aims to harness science and technology, alongside innovation and digital transformation, as primary engines for sustainable growth. The country emphasized the need for deeper engagement under the Comprehensive Partnership and existing strategic cooperation frameworks with the Netherlands, advocating for increased collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, green transition, and technological innovation.
The Vietnamese delegation also called for the Netherlands’ support in ratifying the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement and urged the elimination of trade barriers affecting seafood exports. Meanwhile, the Netherlands reiterated its commitment to enhancing ties with Vietnam, recognizing it as a key and reliable partner in the Asia-Pacific region. Dutch officials expressed a keen interest in dispatching larger business delegations to Vietnam and broadening cooperation in high-tech industries, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, scientific research, and workforce development.
The two nations agreed to bolster their collaboration in various fields such as security, defense, justice, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. They encouraged the fostering of closer connections between local governments and businesses. On the international stage, both countries reaffirmed their support for multilateralism, free trade, and the peaceful settlement of disputes following international law. They highlighted the significance of maintaining peace, stability, and the freedom of navigation and overflight, particularly within the context of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.