Representatives of Việt Nam's law enforcement forces and the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS De Ruyter pose for a group photo in Hải Phòng on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HẢI PHÒNG — Chairman of the People's Committee of Hải Phòng City Đỗ Thành Trung welcomed and had a meeting with a delegation from the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS De Ruyter on Friday.

In his welcoming remarks, Trung shared the norther city’s outstanding socio-economic development achievements, as well as its urban and port development orientations.

He expressed his hope to continue developing cooperative relations with Dutch partners in the future, especially in the seaport sector.

Leading the Dutch delegation, Rear Admiral Jeanette Morang, Special Envoy of the Chief of Defence at the Royal Netherlands Navy, said she believes that Việt Nam, including Hải Phòng, and the Netherlands will continue to record fruitful cooperation, especially in the development of smart and sustainable ports.

Dutch Ambassador to Việt Nam Kees van Baar noted that two years since the first visit of a Royal Netherlands Navy ship to Việt Nam, this time’s trip by HNLMS De Ruyter reaffirms the European country’s commitment to strong and long-term cooperation with Việt Nam and the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the areas of naval cooperation, respect for international law, and freedom of navigation in international waters.

Frigate HNLMS De Ruyter is on a visit to Hải Phòng Port from May 29 to June 1. The visit is expected to mark another important milestone in the increasingly strong partnership between the Netherlands and Việt Nam.

Over the past years, cooperation between Hải Phòng and Dutch partners has been continuously promoted in such fields as seaports, logistics, urban development, the environment, digital transformation, human resources training, and cultural exchange, according to the Hải Phòng People's Committee.

The Netherlands currently has 17 direct investment projects in Hải Phòng with investment capital totalling about US$361 million. Many Dutch businesses are operating effectively in the city, especially in the maritime and logistics sectors. — VNA/VNS