Vietnam and the Netherlands have reinforced their dedication to strengthening collaboration across various sectors during their second deputy minister-level political consultation held in Hanoi. The talks, led by Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Lê Thị Thu Hằng and Dutch Deputy Foreign Minister Marcel de Vink, focused on reviewing the progress of bilateral ties and celebrating the ongoing growth in diplomatic engagements, economic partnerships, and regional as well as international collaborations.
Vietnam underscored its developmental ambitions to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a developed, high-income nation by 2045. Central to these goals are the advancements in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, which are seen as pivotal for sustainable development. The Vietnamese officials urged for a deeper execution of the Comprehensive Partnership and existing strategic cooperation frameworks with the Netherlands, emphasizing enhanced collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, sustainable agriculture, and climate adaptation.
The discussions also highlighted Vietnam’s desire for support in ratifying the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement and addressing trade barriers concerning seafood exports. Meanwhile, the Netherlands reiterated its commitment to bolstering relations with Vietnam, recognizing the country as a significant and reliable partner in the Asia-Pacific region. Dutch representatives expressed their intent to increase business delegations to Vietnam and expand partnerships in high-tech sectors, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, scientific research, and workforce training.
Both nations agreed to boost cooperation in security, defense, justice, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. They also advocated for stronger connections between local governments and businesses. On the international front, the two countries confirmed their support for multilateralism, free trade, and the peaceful resolution of disputes according to international law. They stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of navigation, with specific reference to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.