The affirmation was made on November 27 in a meeting between Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Viet Nam’s Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, who is visiting Holland from November 26-30.

During the meeting, Rutte applauded the socio-economic development of Viet Nam, especially in reducing poverty and intensifying international integration, as well as its efforts to weather the global financial and economic recession.

He highly valued Viet Nam’s role in the region and the world, particularly in ASEAN. He expressed his belief that the country, as a coordinator between ASEAN and the EU, will contribute significantly to strengthening links between ASEAN and the EU, as well as between the EU and Viet Nam in particular.

Holland will accelerate the ratification of the signed partnership and cooperation agreement (PCA) between Vietnam and the EU, and foster the development of a Viet Nam-EU free trade agreement (FTA).

For his part, Hai thanked the Dutch Government for its development aid to Viet Nam over the past years, expressing his hope that Holland will continue aiding the country in infrastructure development and education.

He took the occasion to convey Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s invitation for Rutte to visit Viet Nam, which Rutte accepted with pleasure.

Expressing their delight at their relationship’s positive development in all fields, the two sides agreed to strengthen delegation exchanges at all levels and coordinate closely to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 2013.

They also agreed to create favourable conditions for businesses from both countries to invest in each other’s market.

Whilst in Holland, Hai will meet the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, the Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment, and the Mayors of Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

He will co-chair the second meeting of the Viet Nam-Holland inter-government committee in response to climate change and water management, attend a CEOs round table meeting, visit several prominent businesses and make fact-finding tours to economic establishments.