Norway and Vietnam’s Prime Ministers held talks in Hanoi

Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway met with Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi on April 17, 2015 where they discussed the two countries’ cooperation in the future and the international efforts for monitoring the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals).

Norway’s PM was prior to arriving in Vietnam visiting also Indonesia in her capacity as one of the leaders in the group in charge of pushing for the United Nations’ MDGs to be achieved, writes the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi.

“Vietnam has made an impressive effort and has shown a strong poverty reduction and progress in achieving the MDGs,” said Erna Solberg.

The two prime ministers agreed to strengthen the two countries’ cooperation towards the new sustainability goals to replace the MDGs – the Post-2015 Global Development Agenda.

“We have also agreed on the importance of working towards an ambitious agreement at the climate summit in Paris later this year. Norway and Vietnam cooperate to preserve forests, as part of the global effort to cut emissions in the forest sector (REDD +), Norway’s PM said

The prime ministers discussed several bilateral and regional issues, and Solberg also brought up human rights in the conversation.

“I stressed the importance of continuing the dialogue on human rights.”

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Vietnam has in recent years experienced a significant economic growth and achieved status as a middle income country in 2010. Many Norwegian companies are established in Vietnam, and business, investment and trade are important areas for cooperation between Norway and Vietnam forward. EFTA and Vietnam are negotiating a free trade agreement, and the Prime Ministers agreed on the importance of putting in place such an agreement.

The Prime Ministers also discussed the increased integration between ASEAN countries (Association of South East Asian Nations), and how Norway can cooperate more with this region.

Summary from the joint communiqué on the occasion of Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg’s official visit to Vietnam, issued by Vietnam and Norway.

During the visit, Prime Minister Erna Solberg held talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and paid courtesy calls to State President Truong Tan Sang and President of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung. Prime Minister Erna Solberg also visited the Lao Cai province, to learn about the implementation of education and health projects administered by UNICEF.

At the bilateral talks, the Prime Ministers expressed their appreciation of more than 40 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Norway and the two countries’ long-lasting friendship and good cooperation. They informed each other about the current situation in Vietnam and Norway and reviewed the Vietnam – Norway relations, and agreed to further strengthen the relations through developing a framework for partnership in commensurate with the cooperation priorities of the two countries in the future.

Vietnam’s PM expressed his appreciation for the current economic growth in Norway. Norway’s PM congratulated Vietnam on the country’s impressive poverty reduction results and progress on the MDGs. The two leaders agreed on the need to accelerate efforts to reach the remaining MDGs and strengthen the two countries’ cooperation on the global post 2015 development agenda.

The PMs welcomed the growing economic ties between the two countries and agreed to continue efforts to expand cooperation within business, investments and trade. Their main sectors of economic activities are highly compatible, and the maritime, marine and energy sectors are all of great potential for enhanced bilateral cooperation. The two leaders affirmed their Governments’ commitment to an early conclusion of a comprehensive and high quality free trade agreement between Vietnam and EFTA.

They agreed to continue: the exchange of visits, especially high-Level ones to discuss issues of mutual interest, holding periodic political consultations, and the dialogue on human rights between Vietnam and Norway. They discussed the importance of international law mechanisms, including the role of the UN Human Rights Council in protecting and promoting human rights.

The significant action being taken by many countries to tackle climate change and their commitment to exploring ways of collaborating in global negotiations to attain the goal of a legally binding global agreement were brought up. The two leaders further stressed the importance of global efforts to reduce emission from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+). Norway and Vietnam will continue to collaborate on reducing emissions from the forest sector through the UN-REDD program in Vietnam.

The PMs agreed to enhance the two countries’ cooperation at regional and multilateral fora. In this spirit, they expressed their appreciation of the adoption of the Joint Statement on ASEAN –Norway Partnership at the 47th AMM meeting in August 2014 and acknowledged the potential for increased cooperation that a formalized Norwegian partnership with ASEAN will provide.

They also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern. Vietnam and Norway share a commitment to a fair, just and rules-based international society based on a multilateral system with the UN playing a central role in addressing international issues through dialogue and consultations in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. The two countries’ respective leaders reaffirmed their commitment to respecting and strengthening international law in order to ensure peace, stability and prosperity and to promote maritime security, safety and cooperation, freedom of navigation and over flight, unimpeded commerce and to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea in full compliance with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

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