The Netherlands is a strategic partner of Vietnam in the fields of climate change, agriculture and food security, said Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

At a Hanoi reception for Mayor Eberhard Van de Laan of the Netherlands’ Amsterdam city on December 9, Hai noted with pleasure the developing Vietnam-Netherlands relations with two-way trade increasing by 13-14 percent per year.

He informed that the World Bank-funded Mekong Delta Plan, with the assistance of the Netherlands , has been deployed with the aim of managing water resources and controlling floods.

He spoke highly of collaboration between Hanoi and Amsterdam , expressing wish that the Dutch city will continue to cooperate with Hanoi in training and urban administration.

The Vietnamese Government is willing to support the two cities’ joint projects in energy and waste treatment, the Deputy PM affirmed.

For his part, the Amsterdam mayor said that the two sides should share experience and expand cooperation, including the opening of a direct route between Hanoi and Amsterdam which helps boost people-to-people exchange, tourism and trade.

He said his country may serve as a gateway for Vietnam ’s goods to enter the European market.-VNA