A strong bridge between Vietnam and the Netherlands

The friendly and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and the Netherlands has gone through 50 years. Despite being geographically distant, the two countries are always reliable partners in the fields of sustainable agriculture, food security and climate change adaptation, and are working together to effectively respond to global challenges.

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Netherlands. Since establishing diplomatic relations on April 9, 1973, the two countries have actively built a good friendly and cooperative relationship in all fields, including politics-diplomacy, economics, education-training and defence-security.

Over the years, the Vietnam-Netherlands relationship has grown more and more positive, especially in the past two decades with visits by the two countries’ senior leaders and close cooperation at multilateral forums, as well as the advancement of cooperation in high-potential fields.

The decision to upgrade bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership in 2019 opened a new chapter in the history of Vietnam-Netherlands relations, demonstrating the strong determination of the two governments to promote comprehensive cooperation to cover not only economics, trade and development cooperation, but also other areas such as climate change adaptation, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and circular economics.

Vietnam and the Netherlands are important and priority partners of each other in many fields, including investment and trade. The Netherlands is Vietnam’s second largest trading partner in Europe and the European Union’s largest investor in Vietnam. Dutch-branded products such as Heineken beer and Philips electronic products have become household names in Vietnam. Meanwhile, for Vietnamese businesses, the Netherlands is a reliable and attractive investment and business destination.

Similarities in natural conditions and efforts to promote green, sustainable development, as well as energy transition are among the factors helping Vietnam and the Netherlands become closer and cooperate more closely in areas such as climate change adaptation, water resource management and sustainable agriculture.

According to the Vietnam News Agency, Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Kees van Baar once stated that Vietnam and the Netherlands have many things in common as both countries have economies based on international trade and investment, both have vast deltas, both face serious water and climate change challenges, and both have export-oriented agriculture.

To overcome common challenges together, Vietnam and the Netherlands established a strategic partnership on climate change adaptation and water management in 2010 and a strategic partnership on sustainable agriculture and food security in 2014. These are important foundations in helping bilateral relations develop more substantively and effectively, bringing practical benefits to the peoples of both countries.

Within the framework of the strategic partnership on climate change adaptation and water management, the two sides established an intergovernmental committee to coordinate activities. Many projects have been implemented effectively, especially the Mekong Delta Plan, with a long-term vision for solving water resources management issues and adapting to climate change so as to turn the Mekong Delta into a sustainable economic development region.

The 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands is an opportunity for the two sides to look back at the development journey in their fine traditional friendship, while reaffirming their commitments to working together towards a brighter future for both countries.