The National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam and Norway Parliament should boost exchange of delegations, sharing information and law-making experiences, NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong said.

The two sides should further coordinate and provide mutual support at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums, especially in the framework of the World Inter-Parliamentary Union, contributing to the common voice of the world’s people for peace, friendship, cooperation and development, Phong told Gunn Karin Gjul, head of the Norwegian Parliament’s Committee on Family and Cultural Affairs, in Hanoi, on March 28.

Together with development in the two countries’ relations, cooperation and friendship between the two legislative bodies have increased, Phong said, adding that Norway will give priority to cooperating and supporting Vietnam in the fields of climate change resilience, forest planting and protection, and renewable energy development.

The Vietnamese legislator also said she wanted Norway to encourage Norwegian businesses to increase investment and trade exchanges with Vietnam , as well as help and create conditions for the Southeast Asian nation’s goods to enter the Norwegian market, and then the Northern European market.

Gunn Karin Gjul spoke highly of Vietnam ’s achievements, especially in poverty reduction. She affirmed her wish and resolve to boost exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and two parliaments.

The Norwegian official said she hoped to help Vietnam solve issues on climate change, sea-level rise and the aftermath of disasters, as well as contribute to global efforts to address these challenges.

During her meeting with the Norwegian parliamentarian, Vice NA Chairwoman Phong spoke highly of the current visit by the Norwegian parliamentary delegation to Vietnam on the occasion when the two countries are celebrating the 40 th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

She expressed her thanks to the Norwegian Government and people for assisting Vietnam during the struggle for national independence and reunification in the past, as well as the country’s development and integration at present.

The Norwegian government provided official development assistance (ODA) and mixed credit for Vietnam ’s socio-economic development through many programmes and projects, contributing to poverty reduction in remote, isolated and ethnic inhabited areas.

The Norwegian delegation is on a working visit to Vietnam from March 25-30. The delegation is scheduled to have talks with the NA Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, and work with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs./.