Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte held talks in The Hague yesterday, affirming their determination to promote the two countries’ comprehensive partnership. Welcoming PM Chinh’s official visit, PM Rutte stated that the Netherlands attaches importance to Vietnam’s important stature and role in its policy towards the Indo-Pacific region. They concurred in continuing to effectively implement the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and developing the two countries into transit centres for goods in their respective regions.

PM Chinh proposed the Netherlands to soon ratify the EU – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA); encourage Dutch businesses to step up investment in the fields they are strong at in Vietnam such as seaport, shipbuilding, logistics, and infrastructure connectivity; support the European Commission’s removal of its IUU “yellow card” warning against Vietnam’s aquatic product exports; and assist the Southeast Asian nation to build seaports, airports, and innovation centres. The Vietnamese Government leader also suggested the two sides ink a labour cooperation agreement soon.

The two leaders agreed to intensify cooperation within the framework of the strategic partnerships in climate change adaptation and sustainable agriculture and expand cooperation in security-defence, culture-tourism, transport, science-technology, and education-training while continuing to support each other at multilateral forums like the ASEAN-EU cooperation, the Asia-Europe Meeting, and the United Nations.

The two PMs reaffirmed the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, and resolving disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of international law. They also underlined the significance of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Source: VOV5