Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Dutc🌃hc🦹ounterpart Mark Rutte attended the Vietnam-Netherlands High-tech Business Forum and the 2023 Green Economy Forum (GEF) in Hanoi on November 2.

In his speech at the hi-tech business forum, PM Rutte said during this visit, heis accompanied by a delegation of nearly 30 leading hi-tech Dutch companies.Many of them are embarking on investment projects in Vietnam while severalothers are exploring opportunities in the country. He said he hopes the forum will help the two countries' agencies and companies understand better the potential of bilateral cooperation, thus promoting investment and partnership. Describing the Netherlands as a vibrant andinnovative country, PM Chinh said the Netherlands is the biggest EU investor in Vietnam and the second biggest European trade partner of Vietnam. However, the two countries still have great potential to expand their cooperation, particularly in science-technology and innovation. 

He suggested Dutch firms should promptly comeup with specific plans to connect with Vietnamese enterprises in hi-techagriculture, new and renewable energy, semiconductors, climate change adaptation,shipbuilding services, and other sectors via hi-tech projects that offer highadded value and are capable to join the global value chain. 

The PM encourag👍ed Dutch businesseꩵs, corporations, and researchinstitutes to consider and actively engage in comprehensivecooperation with Vietnam through the National Innovation Centreand hi-tech zones in Vietnam.

At the event, the two PMs witnessed the exchange of cooperation agreement documents betweenVietnamese and Dutch agencies and enterprises in the fields of innovation,creativity and finance. 

The same day, the two government leaders attended theplenary session of the 2023 Green Economy Forum (GEF🍬) themed "European-Vietnamese Collaboration Fuels Green Initiatives” 🌸in the capital city.

PM Rutte said it is a special moment in theVietnam-Netherlands relationship as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. The Netherlands is now the largestEuropean investor in Vietnam, and 60% of Vietnam's exports to Europe come ashore at the port of Rotterdam. He said while Vietnam has achieved rapid economic growth, both the Netherlands and Vietnam are facing environmental challenges, requiring the joint efforts of all stakeholders, first of all the business community. Both producers and suppliers are required to comply with the new sustainability regulationsset by the European Union (EU), he said, suggesting that Dutch firms assist their Vietnamese partners in this field.

PM Chinh, for his part, affirmed that Vietnamalways considers EU one of its reliable and most important partners in itsforeign policy.

Vietnam attaches importance to pursuing rapidyet sustainable, inclusive development rather than economicgrowth at the expense of progress, social equity and environmentprotection, he said, adding that the country commits to always protecting thelegitimate rights and interests of foreign investors in any circumstance. 

He asserted that Vietnam strongly sup♉ports the EU's strategies, initiatives, and policies for greendevelopment, and wil🔯l seriously follow regulations related to green production.

The Vietnamese PM wished that the EU would continue to assist Vietnam in the win-win spirit in building mechanisms,policies, technology transfer, financial resource arrangement, high-qualityworkforce training, and enhancing managerial capabilities to promote greendevelopment. 

On the occasion, the PM asked Dutch officials to push for the ratification of the EU-Vietnam InvestmentProtection Agreement (EVIPA) and the European Commission’s removal of theyellow card wa🌄rning against Vietnam related to illegal, unreported andunregulated (IUU) fishing.

The Vietnamese Government leader wished that partners andinvestors would continue to invest in the Mekong Delta,particularly in climate change response, strategic infrastructure development, the1-million-ha quality rice cultivation project, and emissions reduction tocontribute to global food security. Participantsengaged in discussions on various topics, including common future -opportunities and challenges in pursuing sustainability in the economy,security and sustainability of the energy system, transparency and resilienceof the financial system, food sovereignty, carbon emission reduction and circulareconomy./.