Viet Nam, Netherlands strengthen in water management, sustainable agriculture

On July 2, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Trinh Viet Hung received a courtesy call from Dutch Ambassador to Viet Nam Kees Van Baar to discuss bilateral cooperation in agriculture, water resources management, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development.

At the meeting, Minister Trinh Viet Hung reaffirmed Viet Nam's strong commitment to its long-standing friendship and effective cooperation with the Netherlands, which have flourished over the past decades.

The Netherlands is currently one of Viet Nam's key trading partners within the European Union (EU) and the EU's largest investor in Viet Nam, with more than 470 projects and total registered investment exceeding USD 15 billion. The two countries established the Strategic Partnership Arrangement on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management in 2010, followed by the Strategic Partnership Arrangement on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in 2014.

Ambassador Kees Van Baar noted that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is a close partner of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Viet Nam. He emphasized that agriculture, water resources management, and climate change adaptation have consistently been key pillars of bilateral cooperation. The Netherlands will continue to work closely with Viet Nam in these priority areas, particularly in water management and the development of aquaculture technologies.

During the meeting, Ambassador Kees Van Baar announced that a Vietnamese delegation comprising representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, research institutes, universities, and local authorities from the Mekong Delta will attend the Global Shrimp Forum in the Netherlands in early September 2026. The visit will provide opportunities to exchange experience, explore emerging technologies, and gain insights into global market trends.

In the crop sector, the Netherlands expressed its desire to further strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam in plant variety protection, integrated pest management, reducing agricultural input costs, developing farming models adapted to saline intrusion, and promoting the adoption of electronic phytosanitary certification.

The two sides also agreed to deepen collaboration under the One Health approach by promoting sustainable food systems, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and ensuring food safety. Regarding the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Ambassador Kees Van Baar reaffirmed the Netherlands' readiness to assist Viet Nam in addressing implementation challenges through ongoing projects in the Central Highlands.

Both sides also identified nature-based solutions and biodiversity conservation as key areas of continued cooperation. Several programs on mangrove afforestation and restoration, as well as initiatives to raise community awareness on biodiversity conservation, are being implemented to enhance ecosystem resilience to climate change.

In terms of trade and investment, the Dutch Ambassador highly appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in improving institutional frameworks, enhancing transparency, and strengthening policy consultations in line with international standards, thereby creating more favorable conditions for Dutch businesses to invest and expand their operations in Viet Nam.

Minister Trinh Viet Hung expressed his appreciation to the Government of the Netherlands and Ambassador Kees Van Baar personally for their continued support of Viet Nam through numerous development and climate change adaptation initiatives. He also endorsed the proposals put forward by the Dutch side, particularly the early convening of the 9th Session of the Viet Nam-Netherlands Intergovernmental Committee on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management.

The Minister further proposed that both sides expedite the implementation of the project Development of a Strategic Offshore Sand Reserve and Supply Chain Management Center for the Mekong Delta. The project aims to ensure a stable supply of fill materials for infrastructure development while reducing pressure on river sand extraction and strengthening climate resilience.

Affirming that Viet Nam–Netherlands relations are built on a foundation of trust and mutual benefit, Minister Trinh Viet Hung expressed confidence that both sides would continue to build on their strong partnership, further enhancing cooperation in agriculture and natural resources in an increasingly effective and sustainable manner.

On the occasion of Ambassador Kees Van Baar's completion of his diplomatic tenure in Viet Nam, Minister Hung extended his best wishes and expressed his hope that the Ambassador would continue to promote the positive image and values of Viet Nam and its people.