Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister of theNetherlands Mark Rutte successfully wrapped up his official visit to Vietnam atthe invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc late on April 9.

During his visit, the Dutch PM held talks withPM Phuc, paid a courtesy visit to Party General Secretary and President NguyenPhu Trong, and met with National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

He attended a workshop with 70 leading businessesfrom the Netherlands and leaders of Vietnamese ministries and departments, anda sustainable fashion show held by the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee andthe Embassy of the Netherlands in Vietnam.

On the occasion, the two sides issued a joint statement,agreeing on the importance of bilateral cooperation and elevation ofVietnam-Netherlands relations to comprehensive partnership in order to deepentheir collaboration in all fields in the coming time.

The two countries agreed to further increasehigh-level delegation exchanges within bilateral and multilateral frameworks inaddition to improving the efficiency of specific cooperation mechanisms.

They were unanimous to implement cooperationprogrammes based on the priorities and strengths of both countries such ascultivation, animal husbandry, food safety management, smart agriculture,climate change adaptation, and water resources.

The two nations agreed to jointly develop smartagriculture areas and improve chains of products and Vietnamese farm produce aswell as focus on technology transfer from Dutch partners to increasecooperation opportunities among businesses.

The two sides shared a lot of common viewpointson regional and international issues and expressed their support for the enhancementof effective multilateral cooperation, respect for international law, and tradeliberalisation.

They agreed to boost cooperation in the UNpeacekeeping activities and supported the building of a strong and prosperousASEAN community as well as enhance cooperation between the bloc and theEuropean Union (EU) with a view to establishing strategic partnership in thefuture.

While exchanging views about the significance ofmaintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation andaviation in the East Sea, the two sides reiterated their stance of resolvingdisputes via peaceful means in line with international law, including the UN1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On the occasion, the two PMs signed a Memorandumof Understanding between Vietnam and the Netherlands on agriculturaltransformation cooperation in the Mekong Delta, and witnessed the signing of anagreement on mutual administrative support and cooperation in the field ofcustoms, and other bilateral cooperation documents.-VNA