On November 1, 2023, Minister of Information and Communications Huynh Thanh Dat extended a warm welcome to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (L) upon his arrival at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi. A photograph capturing this moment was taken by VNA.
Upon arrival at the airport, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Ngo Huong Nam, and various officials from the foreign ministry warmly welcomed the Dutch leader and his entourage. Also in attendance were Ambassador Kees van Baar and the dedicated team from the Dutch Embassy in Vietnam.
As the two countries commemorate their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the upcoming visit is anticipated to further elevate the bilateral ties to unprecedented levels.
Rutte is set to embark on his third visit to Vietnam, following his previous trips in June 2014 and April 2019. During his initial visit, both nations established a strategic partnership focused on agriculture and food security. Later, in April 2019, the bilateral relationship was elevated to a comprehensive partnership.
Baar emphasized that the primary objective of this visit is to foster enhanced collaboration between both parties in the fields of high technology and digital transformation.
Vietnam highly values its long-standing and significant partnership with the Netherlands. The Netherlands holds a prominent position as Vietnam's top investor within the European Union, contributing a substantial capital of $13.7 billion. Furthermore, it stands as the largest European importer of Vietnamese goods, fostering a thriving bilateral trade that exceeds $11 billion.
In 2010, an agreement concerning climate change and water management was signed between Vietnam and the Netherlands, further solidifying their strategic partnership. Additionally, in 2014, both nations entered into another agreement, this time focusing on agriculture and food security, reaffirming their commitment to collaboration in these crucial areas.
