The first political consultation at the Deputy Foreign Minister level between Vietnam and the Netherlands

On July 11, in The Hague (Netherlands), Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and Dutch Deputy Foreign Minister Marcel De Vink co-chaired the first Deputy Foreign Minister-level Political Consultation.

Political consultation at the Deputy Foreign Minister level between Vietnam and the Netherlands, July 11 in The Hague (Netherlands). (Photo: Bao Chi)

Deputy Minister Marcel De Vink welcomed Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang to the Netherlands for the first political consultation, in the context of the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and the Netherlands that has been developing strongly since the visit to the Netherlands by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in December 2022 and the visit to Vietnam by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in November 2023.

He affirmed that with the trustworthy political relationship between the two countries' senior leaders and with the Netherlands' close affection and support for Vietnam over the past 5 decades, symbolized by a series of support projects, notably the Hanoi -Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, the two sides have a solid foundation to deepen bilateral relations in the coming time.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang expressed her pleasure to visit the Netherlands again and co-chair the political consultation between the two Foreign Ministries; affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to develop friendly and cooperative relations with the Netherlands; thanked the good feelings and help and support that the leaders and people of the Netherlands have given to Vietnam in recent times; emphasized that the Netherlands is always "Vietnam's European friend" as said by former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Vietnam is also always a Southeast Asian friend of the Netherlands.

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and Dutch Deputy Foreign Minister Marcel De Vink. (Photo: Bao Chi)

In an open and sincere atmosphere, the two sides informed each other about the situation in each country. The Dutch Deputy Foreign Minister said that he has always been closely following and is very impressed with the extensive reforms that Vietnam is undertaking; the Dutch business community has responded very positively to the increasingly favorable investment environment and the increasingly simple and transparent administrative procedures in Vietnam; he congratulated and believed that Vietnam would achieve the great goals it has set and become increasingly prosperous.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang emphasized that Vietnam is entering a new era of development with many important and breakthrough reforms, but consistently pursuing an independent, self-reliant foreign policy, diversifying and multilateralizing international relations, and committing to maintaining a favorable and open environment for foreign businesses and investors, and being a safe and friendly destination for international tourists.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and Deputy Minister De Vink highly appreciated the implementation of established cooperation frameworks between the two countries, including the Strategic Partnership on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Resources Management and the Strategic Partnership on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security; affirming that Vietnam and the Netherlands have sufficient foundation and conditions to bring bilateral relations to a new level, becoming increasingly effective and sustainable.

The two sides agreed to maintain and further promote existing cooperation mechanisms, establish new cooperation mechanisms, strengthen coordination between the two Foreign Ministries, including through the Political Consultation mechanism to coordinate relations in all fields, promote and successfully organize high-level and all-level contacts and exchanges, effectively implement commitments and agreements of the two countries' leaders, and strengthen coordination and mutual support at international organizations and multilateral forums.

The two sides agreed to maintain and further promote existing cooperation mechanisms. (Photo: Bao Chi)

Vietnam supports the Netherlands in strengthening relations with ASEAN; the Netherlands supports Vietnam in developing relations with the European Union (EU); the two countries work together to promote relations between ASEAN and the EU, for the benefit of the two countries, the two regions, for peace, cooperation and development in the world.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and Deputy Minister De Vink expressed their satisfaction with the extremely positive development of economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries; in 2024, the Netherlands rose to become Vietnam's largest trading partner in Europe with two-way turnover reaching 13.77 billion USD, an increase of 26% compared to 2023 and turnover in 2025 continued to grow, reaching 5.54 billion USD in the first 5 months of the year.

The Netherlands is also Vietnam's leading direct investor with more than 400 projects worth a total of 13.5 billion USD; a number of Vietnamese companies and corporations have also had initial investment projects in the Netherlands.

The two sides agreed to continue supporting and creating favorable conditions for the business communities of the two countries to promote their potential and strengths, and boost investment in areas with many potentials such as shipbuilding, maritime, wind power, high-tech agriculture, digital technology, semiconductors, digital economy, circular economy, logistics, etc.

The two Deputy Ministers also agreed to promote the effective implementation of the EVFTA to increase trade turnover between Vietnam on one side and the Netherlands and the EU on the other, while diversifying products and markets and promptly responding to fluctuations in the world and regional situation.

The negotiating delegation participated in the first Vietnam - Netherlands Deputy Foreign Minister-level Political Consultation. (Photo: Bao Chi)

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang suggested that the Netherlands further open its agricultural market to Vietnam, soon ratify EVIPA to create more favorable conditions for businesses of both sides to expand investment and import-export, and have a voice so that the EU can soon remove the yellow card on Vietnam's seafood exports, taking into account Vietnam's efforts in recent times.

Expressing gratitude and appreciation for the effectiveness of the Netherlands' official development assistance (ODA) projects, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang requested the Netherlands to continue supporting the implementation of projects to enhance resilience and adaptation to climate change, research and testing against flooding and saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta, as well as projects to support areas vulnerable to climate change in Vietnam, and support Vietnam in implementing its commitments at COP 26 and COP 28.

Discussing other areas of cooperation, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and Deputy Minister De Vink agreed that the two sides still have much potential and room to promote cooperation in education - training, science - technology, national defense - security, transportation, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange...

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang proposed that the Netherlands support Vietnam in training high-quality human resources to serve the country's development in the new era. The two sides agreed to consider visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders and facilitate entry, exit, travel and stay in each other's territories for passport holders of all types.

On this occasion, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang presented an official invitation to the Netherlands to send a high-level delegation to attend the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, which will take place in Hanoi in October 2025.

Discussing international and regional issues of mutual concern, the two sides highly appreciated each other's objective, balanced and responsible views and stances on many international and regional issues; emphasizing that in the context of the rapidly evolving and complicated world situation, with conflicts and tensions at risk of escalating in many regions, countries need to strengthen cooperation for a world of peace, stability, cooperation and development, and the rule of law.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the Netherlands supports ASEAN's stance on the East Sea, including maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea. All disputes need to be resolved by peaceful means on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The two sides support efforts to reform the United Nations and its agencies to promote the central role of this important organization in addressing global issues and handling international relations.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tham-van-chinh-tri-cap-thu-truong-ngoai-giao-viet-nam-ha-lan-lan-thu-nhat-320826.html