Politics

Meeting celebrates Vietnam-Netherlands diplomatic ties

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, in conjunction with the Vietnam-Netherlands Friendship and Cooperation Association, held a meeting in Hanoi on April 24 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Netherlands (April 9).
The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, in conjunction with theVietnam-Netherlands Friendship and Cooperation Association, held ameeting in Hanoi on April 24 to celebrate the 40th anniversary ofdiplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Netherlands (April 9).

Addressing the event, the association’s President Dao Xuan Hoc saidthe bilateral diplomatic ties have seen a fine development, which isreflected through the exchange of high-ranking delegations and thesigning of a strategic partnership agreement on climate changeadaptation and water source management in 2010. The two countries areconsidering the establishment of a strategic partnership in agricultureand sea-based economy.

Last year, two-way tradereached 3.2 billion USD and the Netherlands is now one of the leadingEuropean countries in providing non-refundable aid to Vietnam inthe areas of education, science-technology, water management, disasterprevention, environment and agriculture.

At themeeting, Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Joop Cheffers said that both theNetherlands and Vietnam are coastal nations, own an agriculturaleconomy, and have to face challenges of climate change caused by risingsea level and natural disasters. These similarities are an advantage todevelop the two countries’ relations towards equal cooperation, headded.

Both Hoc and Cheffers said they believe thatwith the favourable development momentum, as well as the achievementsgained over the past 40 years and the joint efforts of the twocountries’ Governments and people, the Vietnam-Netherlands friendshipand comprehensive cooperation will surely reap new fruits, benefitingboth sides and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation anddevelopment.-VNA
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