Prime Minister Arrives at Amsterdam, Starting the Netherlands Visit

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrived at Amsterdam on December 10 afternoon (local time) to start his official visit to the Netherlands at the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, VNA reported Sunday.

The trip is hoped to help intensify and consolidate Vietnam’s relations with the Netherlands, especially as 2023 marks 50 years since Vietnam set up its diplomatic relations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrived at Amsterdam on December 10 afternoon (local time) to start his official visit to the Netherlands at the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Photo: VGP

He is scheduled to have talks and meetings with many leaders of the host country, visit its major economic establishments, attend the Vietnam – Netherlands business forum, witness the signing of bilateral cooperation documents, and meet representatives of the Vietnamese community there.

Over the past years, bilateral relations have seen vigorous developments in various fields, especially investment, trade, agriculture, and climate change response.

The Netherlands is Vietnam’s second-biggest trade partner in Europe and its biggest investor in the European Union. Two-way trade in 2021 reached USD 8.37 billion, nearly 10% more than that a year earlier; and amounted to USD 8.2 billion in the first nine months of this year, marking an increase of 36% year on year.

The Netherlands counts 380 investment projects in Vietnam with a combined capital of USD 13.5 billion. Over the past two years, Vietnam has received one million Covid-19 vaccine doses from the European country.

The visit to the Netherlands by PM Chinh will help further consolidate, strengthen and deepen the Vietnam – Netherlands comprehensive partnership, pushing up the development cooperation in the fields of the Netherlands’ strength and Vietnam’s demand such as circular economy, renewable energy, and climate change response.

According to Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Kees Van Baar, PM Chinh’s visit to the Netherlands is a confirmation that our countries are heading into the right direction. At one hand, PM Chinh’s visit builds on and cements the bilateral success of Green Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE) 2022, building a sustainable relationship together.

At the other, PM Chinh’s visit provides the opportunity to boost and improve the business environment between the two countries and attract more investors.

The visit of PM Chinh promotes the alliance of Dutch and Vietnamese governments, businesses, investors and knowledge institutes and engaged citizens, which is the key to a responsible and sustainable future for both our countries, he said.

With 60% of Vietnamese exports destined for European Markets entering the EU via the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands plays an important role in supporting and facilitating the further growth of the EU-Vietnam trade.

As the main logistical hub and gate to Europe, the Netherlands is also interested in supporting the development of the logistical sector in Vietnam. For Vietnam growing exports to be shipped all over the world, it is important to develop green and smart logistical infrastructure, the diplomat added.