In a significant diplomatic engagement, Vietnam and the Netherlands convened their second deputy minister-level political consultation in Hanoi, underscoring their shared commitment to enhancing cooperation across various sectors. The meeting was jointly led by Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Lê Thị Thu Hằng and her Dutch counterpart, Marcel de Vink, where they evaluated the progress of their bilateral relations. Both nations expressed satisfaction with the continued growth in diplomatic exchanges and economic cooperation, as well as their collaborative efforts in regional and international forums.
Vietnam has set ambitious long-term development goals, aiming to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a developed, high-income nation by 2045. To reach these milestones, the country plans to prioritize science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as pivotal drivers of sustainable growth. During the meeting, Vietnam advocated for a deeper implementation of the Comprehensive Partnership and existing strategic cooperation frameworks between the two countries, encouraging further collaboration in trade, investment, sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, green transition, digital transformation, and innovation.
Additionally, Vietnam called for support in the ratification of the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement and sought the removal of trade restrictions affecting seafood exports. Recognizing Vietnam as a vital and trusted partner in the Asia-Pacific region, the Netherlands reaffirmed its dedication to strengthening ties. Dutch officials expressed a keen interest in expanding cooperation through larger business delegations and focusing on high-technology industries, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, scientific research, and workforce development.
The two nations also agreed to bolster cooperation in areas such as security, defense, justice, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. They emphasized the importance of fostering closer links between local governments and businesses. On broader regional and global matters, both sides reiterated their support for multilateralism, free trade, and the peaceful resolution of disputes in alignment with international law. They highlighted the necessity of maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight, particularly under the framework of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.