Vietnam and the Netherlands have underscored their dedication to broadening cooperation in various sectors during their second deputy minister-level political consultation held in Hanoi. Co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Lê Thị Thu Hằng and Dutch Deputy Foreign Minister Marcel de Vink, the meeting evaluated progress in bilateral relations and celebrated the sustained growth in diplomatic exchanges, economic collaboration, and engagement in regional and international forums.
Vietnam outlined its ambitious development targets of attaining upper-middle-income status by 2030 and evolving into a developed, high-income country by 2045, with an emphasis on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as pivotal avenues for sustainable growth. The country emphasized the need for deeper execution of their Comprehensive Partnership and existing strategic cooperation frameworks, seeking enhanced collaboration in trade, investment, sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, green transition, digital transformation, and innovation.
The Vietnamese representatives also called for support in ratifying the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement and requested the lifting of trade restrictions affecting seafood exports. Meanwhile, the Netherlands reiterated its commitment to bolstering ties with Vietnam, recognizing it as a vital and trusted partner in the Asia-Pacific region. The Dutch delegation expressed eagerness to send larger business missions to Vietnam and to expand cooperation in high-tech industries, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, scientific research, and workforce development.
In addition, both nations agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as security, defense, justice, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. They also encouraged closer connections between local governments and businesses. On the international front, the two sides reaffirmed their support for multilateralism, free trade, and the peaceful resolution of disputes in line with international law. They emphasized the necessity of maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight, particularly under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea framework.