Vietnam and Norway held a series of high-level meetings on 10 February to advance bilateral cooperation across trade, investment, green growth, and sustainable development. Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung received Åsmund Aukrust, Norway’s Minister of International Development, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Hanoi, in the context of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Le Hoai Trung emphasized that Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening multifaceted cooperation with Norway. He highlighted opportunities for both countries to complement each other and expand mutually beneficial collaboration in trade, investment, agriculture, sustainable fisheries development, high technology, adaptation to climate change, environmental protection, green growth, and the circular economy. In the context of increasing global instability and increasing trade tensions, Norwegian Minister Åsmund Aukrust affirmed that Norway wishes to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in the fields of trade, sustainable seafood, green energy, marine economy, green transformation and the development of a circular economy, while continuing to cooperate with Vietnam to promote multilateralism, contributing to solving global challenges.
Cooperation on Green Strategic Partnership and Free Trade Agreement
During the meetings, officials discussed progress towards establishing a Vietnam-Norway Green Strategic Partnership. According to the Ministry, both sides agreed to continue negotiations and work towards the early signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)- Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein- aimed at diversifying markets and bringing practical benefits to businesses and people of both sides.
Minister Le Hoai Trung noted that the partnership and FTA would provide a framework for cooperation in green growth, climate adaptation, sustainable marine development, and investment in technology-driven sectors. Norwegian Minister Aukrust highlighted Vietnam’s proactive foreign policy and strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region. He noted that his visit shortly followed Vietnam’s 14th National Congress of the Communist Party, reflecting a high level of political trust and Norway’s interest in expanding substantive cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
Multilateral Coordination and Regional Engagement
The meetings also included discussions on regional and international cooperation. Both sides agreed to step up exchanges and coordination of positions on issues of mutual interest within frameworks such as ASEAN, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the United Nations, contributing to peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and globally. Minister Aukrust noted that Norway values Vietnam’s proactive participation in international forums and its contributions to regional and global discussions on climate change, sustainable development, and multilateral cooperation.
Education, Training, and Capacity Building
Minister Le Hoai Trung and Minister Aukrust reaffirmed the importance of cooperation in education, training, and development assistance. According to the Ministry, these programs are aimed at strengthening Vietnam’s institutional capacity, promoting gender equality, and supporting socio-economic development. Thus, Minister Le Hoai Trung thanked Norway for the valuable support of Norway over the past time, stressing that the two sides need to continue effective traditional cooperation such as education and training and development support to help Vietnam improve capacity, strengthen institutions, promote gender equality and socio-economic development. The two sides also agreed to exchange expertise in areas such as digital technology, artificial intelligence, space cooperation, Arctic research, and sustainable maritime industries, reinforcing long-term collaboration in emerging sectors.
Bilateral Discussions on Environment and Climate
On the morning of the same day, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung received Minister Åsmund Aukrust in a bilateral meeting to review environmental cooperation and sustainable development initiatives. Both countries advanced bilateral cooperation in green growth, sustainable marine development, forestry management, and climate change adaptation during the high-level meetings. The meetings marked continued progress toward the Vietnam-Norway Green Strategic Partnership and highlighted collaboration across trade, environmental protection, and renewable energy.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung told Minister Aukrust that the Green Strategic Partnership between Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Norway’s Ministry of International Development had been basically agreed on in terms of content. The partnership aligns with Vietnam’s five-year development plan, which emphasizes green growth, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development, consistent with the 14th Party Congress directives. The blue sea economy is identified as a key driver for Vietnam’s next phase of maritime development.
Deputy Minister Hoang Trung highlighted Norway’s leadership in marine resource management, offshore wind power, green maritime technology, and plastic pollution control. He proposed that Norway support research and development of offshore wind power projects, emphasizing ecosystem conservation, particularly for coral reefs and seagrass beds. Both sides agreed to continue technical exchanges and share practical solutions for marine farming, equipment, breeding selection, and modern management systems.
“The development of the marine economy is one of Vietnam’s spearhead sectors. Legal frameworks play a fundamental role in ensuring sustainable management, and exploitation of marine resources must be balanced with long-term ecosystem conservation,” the Deputy Minister stated.
Minister Aukrust noted that Vietnam and Norway’s extensive coastlines and ocean potential provide opportunities for cooperation in fisheries management, renewable energy development, and ocean plastic waste reduction. He expressed optimism that the two ministries would soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the Green Strategic Partnership and pledged continued technical support for national marine spatial planning.
Forestry and Carbon Market Collaboration
The meeting also covered forestry and climate adaptation. Minister Aukrust commended Vietnam’s achievements in protecting and managing forest resources and in the development of carbon credit initiatives. Deputy Minister Hoang Trung reported that Vietnam has issued legal regulations for the carbon credit market, including methodologies for calculating and verifying carbon credits in forestry. He emphasized the need for continued experience-sharing with international partners to enhance sustainable forest management and maximize the economic value of carbon credits.
The Deputy Minister called for Norway’s continued support for Vietnam’s participation in international forestry mechanisms and institutions, technical assistance for improving legal frameworks, and access to bilateral and multilateral climate finance resources. He also highlighted Vietnam’s active role in international climate forums and ongoing national efforts to address saltwater intrusion, land subsidence, extreme weather, and storms through comprehensive local and national planning.
Background
Vietnam and Norway established diplomatic relations in 1971. Over the past 55 years, the two countries have developed cooperation in education, training, fisheries, climate change adaptation, green energy, and sustainable marine development. Officials from both sides noted that the relationship is founded on mutual respect, complementarity in economic and environmental priorities, and shared commitment to sustainable development goals. The February meetings build on years of collaboration, particularly in education, climate finance, forestry, marine economy, and technical assistance, and are designed to expand cooperation into emerging areas, including high technology, circular economy, renewable energy, and offshore wind development.
