This is what Mark Rutte said when he received in Amsterdam the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh, who is on a trip to Europe to attend tomorrow’s summit commemorating the 45th anniversary of relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU).
Rutte stressed the importance of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (Evfta for its English acronym) not only in boosting bilateral economic ties but also in stimulating the flow of investment into the Indochinese country.
He also commended Vietnam’s efforts to develop sustainable fisheries and supported the early lifting of the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning against exports of Vietnamese aquatic products.
For his part, Minh Chinh reiterated the determination to strengthen the comprehensive partnership between the two countries and encouraged Dutch companies to invest in the seaports, shipbuilding technology, logistic connectivity and strategic infrastructure sectors.
In the same way, the VNA news agency reported, the Netherlands called on Vietnam’s support in building ecological, modern and intelligent agriculture.
Yesterday itself, the prime minister was received by Queen Máxima, who expressed his hope that the royal family will continue to support efforts to promote ties between the two countries, as well as financial aid and technology transfers to Vietnam.
Queen Máxima highlighted the achievements of the Indochinese nation in socio-economic development, particularly in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and commended the implementation of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy.
She also assured that she will continue to support Vietnam in the implementation of the SDGs in her capacity as Special Advocate of the United Nations Secretary-General for Inclusive Finance for Development.
Minh Chinh also spoke the day before with the Speakers of the Dutch Senate, Jan Anthonie Bruijn, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Vera Bergkamp, who warmly welcomed his official visit, which they saw as an important milestone in bilateral relations.
lam/mpm