Vietnam urges Netherlands to ratify EU-Vietnam investment protection pact

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Netherlands to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to further boost the European country's investment in Vietnam.

Chinh made the point while meeting with President of the Dutch Senate Anthonie Bruijn and Speaker of the Dutch House of Representatives Vera Bergkamp in The Hague on Monday.

The Vietnamese PM said the ratification of the pact would contribute to creating favorable conditions for Dutch companies to do business and invest in Vietnam. He encouraged Dutch businesses to invest in digital transformation, green transformation, food security, energy security, and climate change response.

Chinh proposed the Dutch parliament support the European Commission's early removal the "yellow card" against Vietnamese seafood exports and consider establishing a Netherlands-Vietnamese parliamentarian friendship group to enhance trust and understanding between the two legislative bodies.

He also shared the government of Vietnam's efforts in responding to climate change, focusing on capacity building, institutional reform, investment in strategic infrastructure, education, and promoting international cooperation, including cooperation with the Netherlands.

"Vietnam always attaches great importance to and wishes to strengthen the comprehensive partnership with the Netherlands in all fields," the PM said.

Bruijn and Bergkamp expressed their impression of Vietnam's dynamic economic development achievements and highly appreciated the close cooperation and strong development in the multifaceted cooperation between both countries in recent years.

They said they also supported Vietnam's role as a bridge to promote relations between the Dutch parliament and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

Bruijn also emphasized the desire to promote cooperation between the two countries on effectively responding to climate change and sea level rise, especially in the Mekong Delta, and affirmed that businesses of the two countries need to take advantage of opportunities from the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement.

The two sides agreed to step up the exchange of parliament delegations.