Green Strategic Partnership: Revitalizing Vietnam – Denmark Relations

On the morning of February 26, at the State Guest House of Vietnam, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and State Secretary for Trade & Global Sustainability at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lina Gandlose Hansen co-chaired the second political consultation between the Vietnamese and Danish Ministries of Foreign Affairs to discuss bilateral cooperation as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang assessed that Vietnam-Denmark relations have improved in many areas in recent years, particularly through increased delegation exchange activities and high-level contacts, as well as close cooperation and support at international and regional forums.

Successful visits by senior leaders from both countries, most notably Danish Crown Prince Frederik (now King of Denmark) to Vietnam in 2022 and Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan to Denmark in 2023, have laid the groundwork for deepening the Comprehensive Partnership and effectively implementing the recently established Green Strategic Partnership framework between Vietnam and Denmark.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang stated that Vietnam values and promotes friendship and comprehensive engagement with Denmark, with a particular emphasis on cooperation in strategic priority areas between the two countries.

State Secretary Lina Gandlose Hansen expressed enthusiasm for her visit to Vietnam and stated that the Danish government values cooperative relations with Vietnam and is committed to expanding it in all sectors, aiming to build a strong foundation for future cooperation.

Lina Gandlose Hansen appreciated Vietnam’s directives, strategies, and initiatives for socioeconomic development and international economic integration.

The Danish official shared that as a major trade and investment partner of Vietnam in the Northern European region, Denmark hopes that the two sides will continue to create favorable conditions for the two countries’ businesses to invest in each other, especially in the fields that Denmark has rich experience and strength, bringing benefits to the business community and people of the two countries, supporting the two economies to recover and develop sustainably.

Discussing cooperation directions between the two countries in the coming time, the two Foreign Ministries agreed to promote the maintenance of delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level ones; and coordinate to effectively implement action plans within the frameworks of the Comprehensive Partnership and Green Strategic Partnership; effectively organize consultation activities between the two Ministries to enhance mutual understanding and trust; and promote the role of effective connection and cooperation between ministries, sectors, agencies, and organizations.

The two countries agreed to continue to coordinate closely and support each other at United Nations agencies and organizations; strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and Denmark and at inter-parliamentary forums, contributing to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

In key fields of trade and investment, the two sides agreed to boost their respective enterprises to improve collaboration, particularly by implementing large-scale investment projects with spillover effects in areas such as green development, circular economy, marine economy, and renewable energy in line with Vietnam’s aims and long-term socio-economic development strategies.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang suggested the Danish side have a voice in urging the National Assembly of the remaining European Union (EU) member countries to quickly ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), thereby facilitating equal and mutually beneficial investment cooperation between both parties; support the European Commission (EC) in removing the IUU yellow card from Vietnam’s exported seafood as soon as possible, while also assisting Vietnam in developing aquaculture towards sustainable fisheries.

Affirming that Vietnam is collaborating with Denmark to complete the Green Strategic Partnership Action Plan as soon as possible, following the Joint Declaration approved by the two Prime Ministers in November 2023, the Vietnamese Deputy Minister wishes to promote effective cooperation with Denmark within the framework of the Fair Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

The Deputy Minister welcomed the Danish proposal to assist Vietnam in promoting sustainable energy development, implementing the goal of reducing greenhouse emissions in accordance with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and Vietnam’s commitments at COP 26 and COP 28; and requested Denmark to implement specific projects to assist climate-vulnerable regions, particularly the Mekong Delta.

Appreciating the two sides’ establishment of the Green Strategic Partnership, State Secretary Lina Gandlose Hansen said that Denmark hopes the two sides would soon concretize this framework into action plans in each phase, and ready to support the effective implementation of the Vietnam – Denmark Energy Partnership Program for the period 2020-2025 (DEPP3) as well as within the framework of the Fair Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), thereby supporting Vietnam in the process of transitioning to renewable energy and developing a circular economy.

The Danish Minister of State for Foreign Affairs appreciated Vietnam’s strong commitment at COP26 to decrease emissions to zero by 2050 and praised the prospects for cooperation under the JETP framework, in which Denmark and Vietnam both participate.

Lina Gandlose Hansen affirmed that Denmark, as one of the world’s leading countries in renewable energy, will continue to assist Vietnam in implementing the Resource Mobilization Plan (RMP) announced at COP 28, which focuses on financial assistance, technology transfer, human resource training, sharing experiences in building institutions and policies and implementing projects to develop the renewable energy industry.

The two sides stressed Vietnam and Denmark’s vital roles as founding members of the Partnership for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit and committed to working closely together to successfully organize the P4G Summit hosted by Vietnam in 2025.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and Secretary of State Lina Gandlose Hansen discussed directions and strategies for implementing current cooperation agreements, as well as proposed new collaboration initiatives between the two nations in the fields of agriculture, education and training, health, research and technology, security and defense, traffic and transportation, people-to-people exchange, all contribute to promoting successful and practical collaboration in all areas covered by the Comprehensive Partnership framework.

The two sides spent time addressing international and regional topics of mutual concern, such as the conflict in Gaza and the Red Sea, and the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Regarding the East Sea problem, both sides reiterated their support for ASEAN’s stance and vital role in guaranteeing security, safety, and freedom of aviation and navigation in the East Sea, as well as resolving disputes through peace measures and respect for international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Phuong Nguyen

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