Vietnam - Denmark: Developing green energy and promoting trade

P4G Summit (Hanoi, April 15-17, 2025), themed "Sustainable and people-centered green transition", is the largest multilateral high-level event on green growth hosted by Vietnam in the 2021-2026 period. Vietnam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper (VAN) will update regularly Vietnam's strong commitments, proactive role and international responsibility at the P4G Summit.

According to Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh, Vietnam and Denmark have had a long-standing traditional relationship and cooperation for over 50 years. The Danish government has always provided human and financial support to Vietnam, including significant contributions to Vietnam's agriculture and environment sectors, especially in key areas such as climate change adaptation, fisheries, irrigation, crop cultivation, livestock, veterinary services, and food safety.

In 2023, the two countries established the Green Strategic Partnership (GSP). Under this partnership, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment took the lead in forming an Inter-Ministerial Standing Group to implement a joint action plan, aiming to effectively coordinate inter-sectoral activities and promote the achievement of sustainable development goals within the GSP framework.

Identifying green growth and renewable energy as the core of the joint strategy

Regarding green growth, the people and businesses in Vietnam have been making significant strides to catch up with global trends and market demands. In the field of food production, the project "Sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation linked to green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030" is being widely implemented, demonstrating a strong commitment to reducing environmental impacts. Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is actively promoting the circular economy model in livestock and crop cultivation.

Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh stated that Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing countries in terms of wind and solar energy. The Vietnamese government is currently developing plans for offshore wind power - an area where Denmark has considerable experience and advanced technology.

"We hope to receive support and cooperation from Denmark in building Vietnam's National Marine Spatial Planning​ and developing offshore wind power projects. Experts from both countries will share knowledge on geotechnical risk assessments, as well as the physical and ecological impacts of offshore wind power in marine and coastal areas.

I believe that within the framework of the Green Development Partnership, the two countries will have many more opportunities to exchange experiences, particularly in the field of renewable energy", Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh said.

Ms. Lina Hansen, State Secretary for Trade and Global Sustainability at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized Vietnam’s strong development potential, especially in key sectors such as agriculture, food, and energy. “All of these sectors fall within the framework of the Green Strategic Partnership, and both countries share common goals to collaborate and grow together", she affirmed.

In addition to these areas, Denmark also cooperates with Vietnam in other fields such as vocational education, statistics, and healthcare. These sectors will increasingly integrate green development elements. “For example, in education and vocational training, Danish experts will incorporate green transition experiences and support capacity building. This ensures that all professions are aligned with the long-term goal of sustainable development", Ms. Lina Hansen explained.

To strengthen coordination under the Green Strategic Partnership, Ms. Hansen proposed establishing an interministerial committee between Vietnam's and Denmark's relevant ministries. This mechanism would facilitate regular exchanges and foster close cooperation in developing and implementing joint initiatives.

Promoting trade in aquaculture and food processing between Vietnam and Denmark

According to Deputy Minister Lina Hansen, climate change is increasingly having negative impacts on agriculture and the food sector in both countries. Denmark is currently at the forefront of developing technologies, innovations, and adaptive solutions to enhance the resilience of its national economy.

“The Danish Government is currently researching and developing a new mechanism to promote the green transition and climate change adaptation. Denmark is ready to share its experiences and new approaches with Vietnam to jointly tackle this challenge", Ms. Lina Hansen shared.

Regarding international cooperation, Denmark is a close partner of many countries and is always proactive in seeking opportunities for sustainable development collaboration. Meanwhile, Vietnam is a country with strong development in the agri-food sector. Therefore, Denmark hopes to strengthen trade and investment between the two countries, particularly in aquaculture and food processing.

After listening to Ms. Lina Hansen's remarks, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh suggested that government agencies and industry associations from both Vietnam and Denmark continue to support businesses in promoting trade. He emphasized the need to boost the import and export of each country’s key products, especially in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, to increase two-way trade in the near future.