Vietnam and the Netherlands on Oct. 1 in The Hague issued a joint statement on the official visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to the Kingdom from Sept. 27-Oct. 1, affirming to increase cooperation in five prioritised areas.

This was the first visit to an European country by the Prime Minister after the National Assembly of Vietnam elected leaders of the State and the Government for the new term, the statement stressed.

At talks and meetings during PM Dung’s visit, leaders of both sides were pleased to acknowledge economic development of each country in the context of the world economy facing difficulties and believed that the two countries will succeed in maintaining macro-economic stability and sustainable development, the joint statement said.

The two sides welcomed new steps of development in the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and the Netherlands and agreed on the need to expand and deepen the relations, the statement added.

In the spirit, the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in the five prioritised areas of climate change resilience and water resource management, agriculture, sea-born economy, energy and logistics. They also agreed to expand cooperation to other fields of their mutual concern.

They expressed their satisfaction about the specific cooperation within the framework of their strategic partnership agreement on climate change resilience and water resource management.

Vietnam spoke highly of the Netherlands’ experience and cooperation in the area and wished the European country continue supporting and closely working with Vietnam for the benefit of both sides, including the completion of the Mekong Delta Master Plan vision 2100 and establishment of cooperation in climate and water services in order to help each other develop new services, products and improve capacity to raise awareness on water resources and climate.

The two sides agreed that the Netherlands ’ official development assistance to Vietnam importantly contributed to the country’s socio-economic development and their development cooperation is turning into a partnership for mutual benefit.

The facility for infrastructure development (ORIO) programme is one element in the future bilateral cooperation between the two governments, the statement affirmed.

The two sides hailed the signing of a protocol amending the aviation agreement between Vietnam and the Netherlands , a memorandum of understanding on climate and water service cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment and several cooperation deals between businesses and universities.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Verhagen attended the energy cooperation forum, where the two sides signed several cooperation documents, including a memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation.

The two sides welcomed the active role of each country in the region and the world, especially the role of Vietnam in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the role of the Netherlands in the European Union (EU).

On this occasion, the Dutch Prime Minister spoke highly of Vietnam ’s contributions and success in its role as ASEAN Chair 2010 as well as the country’s participation in activities of the Group 20 as the ASEAN Chair.

The two sides reaffirmed Vietnam supports the Netherlands in increasing cooperation with ASEAN and the Netherlands backs Vietnam in promoting relations with the EU.

They also highly valued their close coordination on international arena, acknowledged both sides at the United Nations and affirmed continued cooperation and close coordination on this forum./.