Hanoi (VNA)🌠 – Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha welcomedDutch firms and partners to join in the pilot scheme for rooftop solarinstallation in Vietnam during a reception in Hanoi on May 31 for DutchAmbassador to Vietnam Kees van Baar.

Deputy PM Ha said Vietnam and the Netherlandsare strategic partners in climate change adaptation, water management,sustainable agriculture and food security. With the support of Dutch partners, he said theVietnamese Government has issued a decision on the Master Plan for the MekongDelta region for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. It has adoptedadvanced approaches to addressing climate change, managing water resourcessustainably, and forming mechanisms for regional coordination and development.

He informed the diplomat that the NationalPower Development Plan VIII (PDP VIII) incorporatesseveral new mechanisms, such as self-generation and self-consumption; immediateconversion of fossil fuel-based power to wind and solar power, or the use ofgreen fuels such as green hydro and green ammonia; and the export ofrenewable energy. The key considerations include the capacity of businesses,the feasibility of technologies, and economic efficiency.

൩ With experience in offshore wind powerdevelopment, he hoped that Dutch enterprises would help the VietnameseGovernment complete criteria for selecting investors, transferring research andtechnology, evaluating economic efficiency, and ensuring national security andsafety.

The host suggested that Dutch partners could explore investment options in renewable energy projects thatare synchronous with the establishment of major industrial zones in the MekongDelta. This would also enhance the role of the State in directing, supporting,and accompanying businesses in specific projects to achieve the set objectives.

🌸 Kees van Baar, for his part, said Vietnam and the Netherlands hold greatpotential in new areas such as renewable energy and carbon market development.

Dutch firms are very interested in orientations for renewable energy development outlined in PDP VIII and wish forsupport to embark on pilot projects on rooftop solar and offshore wind power,he said, adding that the Netherlands is willing to provide support and technicalconsultancy in policy building, management, technology transfer, and greenfinancial resources for Vietnam’s just energy transition process. Receiving US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper the same day, Deputy PM Hasaid Vietnam – US ties are growing stronger, particularly in climatechange response, dealing with dioxin contamination, the Just Energy TransitionPartnership (JETP), and net-zero gas emissions.

He said the issuance of PDP VIII,which allocates a significant space for renewable energy, reflects Vietnam'scommitment to taking collective actions in line with the JETP and net-zerogoals. Vietnam has confidence in the support and commitment of JETP partners interms of technology, management, and financial resources for renewable energyand the establishment of carbon markets.

Global issues lay a crucial foundation for cooperation between Vietnamand the US, fostering substantive and profound relations that bring value tothe people of both countries while contributing to addressing global challenges,he said.

ඣ Knapper, for his part, said the US will continue assisting Vietnam in carryingout the JETP and achieving net-zero goals through sharing andtransfer of technology, financial resources, management, and technical expertise forrenewable energy projects involving the participation of US businesses.

The US partner organisations will continue steppingup projects addressing the consequences of dioxin contamination, mineclearance, and support for people with disabilities. Host and guest agreed on measures to utiliseVietnam's skilled workforce with the support of the US-funded infrastructureand equipment, thus pushing forward sci-tech research involving new materials,vaccines, and core technologies while harnessing the advantages of digitaltransformation, education and training, innovation, health care./.