In Hanoi, Vietnam and the Netherlands convened their second deputy minister-level political consultation, underscoring a mutual determination to broaden collaborative efforts across various sectors. The discussions were spearheaded by Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Lê Thị Thu Hằng and her Dutch counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Marcel de Vink. The dialogue involved an assessment of the current state of bilateral relations, with both parties acknowledging the positive trajectory in diplomatic interactions, economic partnerships, and cooperative engagements at both regional and international platforms.
Vietnam articulated its future-oriented vision, aspiring to transition into an upper-middle-income status by 2030 and subsequently into a high-income developed nation by 2045. Central to this ambition is a strategic emphasis on science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as pivotal elements driving sustainable economic progress. To align with these goals, Vietnam advocated for a more profound application of the Comprehensive Partnership and existing strategic frameworks shared with the Netherlands, alongside a call for enhanced cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, green transition, digital transformation, and innovation.
The Vietnamese representatives also highlighted the necessity for support in ratifying the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement and sought the removal of trade barriers affecting seafood exports, indicating a desire to expand market reach and economic integration with the European Union. Meanwhile, the Netherlands reaffirmed its dedication to fortifying its relationship with Vietnam, recognizing the Southeast Asian nation as a significant and reliable partner within the Asia-Pacific landscape. Dutch authorities expressed aspirations to ramp up engagement by dispatching larger business delegations and advancing partnerships in cutting-edge sectors such as high-tech industries, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, scientific research, and workforce development.
Both nations concurred on the importance of enhancing cooperation in fields such as security, defense, justice, culture, tourism, and fostering people-to-people exchanges. They also promoted the strengthening of connections between local governments and businesses, which could provide a robust foundation for future collaborative endeavors. On broader regional and global issues, Vietnam and the Netherlands reiterated their support for multilateralism, free trade, and the peaceful resolution of disputes in alignment with international law, emphasizing the significance of maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight, particularly within the framework of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.