Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has highlighted Vietnam ’s achievements over the recent past, especially its successes in overcoming the impacts of the global financial downturn.

The Queen was receiving outgoing Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Ha Huy Thong, who paid her a courtesy visit on May 28.

She stressed said that Vietnam is expected to become one of the first countries to fulfil the United Nations Millennium Development Goals set for developing countries.

Queen Beatrix also praised Vietnam ’s recent external relations achievements, expressing her delight at the country’s celebrations of the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi as well as its role of ASEAN Chair and ASEAN representative at the G-20 Summit.

She said she hoped the Netherlands-Vietnam relationship would be further consolidated, especially in economics, trade, climate change and water management.

Ambassador Thong expressed his hope that the Queen would continue paying attention to boosting the development of the two countries’ relationship./.