Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and the Netherlandsboast a good, open and candid relationship, which is seen as a model of relationsbetween Vietnam and a European nation, a diplomat has said.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency(VNA) on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of the bilateraldiplomatic ties (April 9, 2023), Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands PhamViet Anh recalled the Netherlands’ support to Vietnam in various spheres whenthe Southeast Asian nation was facing a host of war-induced challenges.

The two countries are now cooperating equally withjoint efforts and for mutual benefits, he continued.

The bilateral relationship has been constantlyelevated, Anh said, highlighting the upgrade of the relations to a strategicpartnership in several areas like climate change adaptation and watermanagement (in 2010), sustainable agriculture and food security (2014), andmost recently the comprehensive partnership (2019).

The diplomat attributed the Netherlands’ importantcontributions to Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, particularly inagriculture, climate change response and water management andeducation-training.

Such cooperation achievements over the past 50 yearshave created the strength and a foundation for their future collaboration, hesaid, calling their closeness in awareness and response measures to globalchallenges a continuation of similarities in situation and mindset shared bythe two countries in the past.

“That is not to mention the harmony in the spiritfor peace, justice and respect for the core values of humanity,” Anh said, adding “Thathas prompted the Dutch people to enthusiastically support Vietnam's resistance waragainst the US, which has become an asset and an important spiritual pedestalfor their friendship.”

The ambassador suggested the two countries carryforward such cooperation achievements to contribute to sustainable developmentand peace of the world.

However, Anh held that the bilateral cooperation hasyet to meet expectations of both sides, stressing the relationship is expected to growmore intensively and effectively given Vietnam’s capacity in terms of digitaltransformation, energy transition, seaport planning and construction,infrastructure connectivity, logistics, high-tech agriculture, and cooperationin high-quality personnel training.

The political ties have built up trust betweenVietnam and the Netherlands, motivating them to share viewpoints atmultilateral forums, he continued, expressing his belief that theircoordination and cooperation at multilateral forums will bring about goodresults.

Asked about celebrations of the 50th anniversaryof the diplomatic ties, Anh said preparations have been made by the VietnameseEmbassy and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2022.

In order to strengthen and deepen their cooperation,the two countries should create, consolidate and enhance their mutual trust, while conductingregular consultations and exchanges at all levels, he suggested.

Economic ties between localities, businesses, organisationsand research institutes would bring about specific results, and effectivelyserve national development in each country, which will also create a foundationto foster the mutual trust and the harmony of interests, Anh said.

At the same time, the two countries should upholdtheir existing cooperation mechanisms, while making them more specific and growat a higher level, the ambassador noted.

Anh also suggested Vietnamese localities andbusinesses take a more active role in exploring strengths, orientations andrequirements of the Dutch market, and prepare themselves for connectivity withDutch partners.

He said the official visit to the Netherlands byPrime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in December 2022 has affirmed Vietnam’sdetermination to forge the cooperation, contributing to tightening andadvancing the comprehensive partnership.

In 2023 and the years to come, the two countrieswill focus on concretising commitments made by the two governments during the above-saidvisit, especially in climate change response, energy transition and sustainabledevelopment.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung openedup cooperation activities this year with a visit to Brainport Eindhoven, dubbedas the Silicon Valley of Europe, in Eindhoven city of the Netherlands, in an effortto concretise a project on building the Vietnam national innovation centrefollowing the Dutch model, Anh said./.