Vietnam always attaches importance to fostering friendship and cooperation with the Netherlands, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

The Vietnamese Government leader made the remark while meeting with Dutch Queen Maxima, who is also a prestigious United Nations expert in inclusive finance, in The Hague on March 25 on the sidelines of the third Nuclear Security Summit (NSS).

He stated that the two countries have cooperated well in five priority areas including climate change adaptation and water management, agriculture, sea-based economy, oil and gas, and logistics services.

In particular, the strategic partnership on climate change adaptation and water management has been promoted effectively, bringing practical benefits to both sides, he stressed.

Both agreed that the Vietnam-Netherlands ties not only benefit each nation but also deepen cooperation between the two important economic regions in the world.

They noted with pleasure the positive development of economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. The Netherlands remains Vietnam ’s leading investor and trade partner in Europe .

PM Dung expressed his wish that the Royal Family and the Queen herself will continue creating favourable conditions for the Dutch Government and companies to set up stable and long-term partnerships with Vietnam, especially in priority areas.

He suggested Queen Maxima, as the UN General-Secretary’s Special Envoy on Inclusive Finance for Development, pays attention to prioritising cooperation programmes for Vietnam in the fields of enhancing management for small credit projects, ensuring food security and education.

The Vietnamese Government is calling on bilateral and multilateral donors and non-governmental organisations to finance small credit projects so that women and poor people, particularly in mountainous and rural areas, can gain access to financial sources, he said.

It is also exerting every effort to create a favourable legal environment for inclusive finance activities in Vietnam , he added.

The Queen proposed measures to boost bilateral cooperation, especially in inclusive finance.

She also expressed the deep impressions the land and people of Vietnam left on her during her visit to the country in March 2011.

On the occasion, PM Dung invited the King and Queen to visit Vietnam again at an appropriate time.-VNA