Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (R) receives Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs Kristian Jensen in Hà Nội yesterday. — Photo VGP

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc called on Denmark to strengthen co-operation with Việt Nam in green energy, renewable energy, and healthcare, while hosting Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs Kristian Jensen in Hà Nội yesterday. 
The PM said Việt Nam was stepping up anti-corruption and creating a favourable business environment for foreign investors, including those from Denmark. 
He proposed the European country persuade the EU to sign the Việt Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement as soon as possible. 
He took this occasion to thank the Danish Government and people for providing official development assistance (ODA) for Việt Nam over the past few years, saying the Southeast Asian country hoped to receive more ODA from Denmark to address current difficulties. 
Regarding the East Sea issue, the PM suggested Denmark continuously advocate the maintenance of peace, stability, freedom, safety and security of navigation and aviation as well as the settlement of disputes via peaceful means and international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards reaching a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). 
Kristian Jensen said Việt Nam and Denmark were forging stronger co-operation in politics, economics and investment, noting that the two sides have hosted numerous activities to celebrate the 45th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2016. 
He added that more than 130 Danish companies were operating in Việt Nam in various fields such as beverages, machinery and education. 
The diplomat said he hoped the Việt Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement would soon be inked. 
He informed that Denmark had set up development funds worth US$4 billion, and expected to list Việt Nam among recipients given the country’s reform progress. 
As regards the East Sea matter, the foreign minister said Denmark hoped the involved parties would address disputes peacefully and in respect of international law.

Facilitating co-operation

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh and Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen agreed to facilitate business operations in the priority fields of agriculture, food processing, renewable energy, green growth and the environment at their talks in Hà Nội yesterday.

The talks were held during the Danish Foreign Minister’s official visit to Vietnam from October 11-12.

Deputy PM Minh said the visit would contribute to lifting bilateral ties to a greater height, especially in the context of celebrations for the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, which falls on November 25, this year.

Minister Jensen affirmed the Danish government wanted to develop ties with Việt Nam – a country which plays an increasingly important role in the region.

Host and guest expressed pleasure with the development of the bilateral friendship and co-operation over the past 45 years, especially since the two countries established a comprehensive partnership in 2013.

Both sides pledged to increase the exchange of all-level visits, effectively carry out the mechanisms of deputy ministerial-level political consultation and the Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic and Trade Cooperation, as well as the Việt Nam-Denmark Plan of Action for 2016.

The two countries will enhance cultural-sports-tourism exchange to raise mutual understanding between the two peoples, and accelerate the official signing of the Việt Nam-European Union free trade agreement, thereby creating a framework to expand bilateral trade and investment in the future.

Thanking the Danish government for its supply of official development assistance over the past years, Minh suggested new and effective cooperation models be sought to deal with climate change, the environment, energy and green growth.

Minh suggested that the two sides work together to seek new forms of co-operation as bilateral relations have shifted from development cooperation to mutually-beneficial co-operation.

On regional and global issues of shared concern, the two sides vowed to work closely together at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations.

Việt Nam welcomed Denmark’s increased support for ASEAN and wished the two sides would promptly embark on specific cooperation activities, especially in maritime security, institution building, sharing experience in the peaceful settlement of disputes, connectivity, infrastructure, education, farming, green technology and climate change adaptation, Deputy PM Minh said.

As regards the East Sea issue, Minh and the Danish foreign minister expressed their concern over the recent developments in the waters and underscored the need to settle disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, the United Nations Charter and especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, towards reaching a Code of Conduct in the East Sea to maintain peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of maritime and aviation movement as well as trade in the area.

Joint Governmental Committee

Also yesterday, the fifth meeting of the Việt Nam–Denmark Joint Governmental Committee took place in Hà Nội, seeking to reinforce the comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

The two sides recognised the rapid development in bilateral economic and trade cooperation in recent years, especially since they became comprehensive partners in 2013 and signed specific action plans for 2014-15 and 2016.

Speaking at the event, Minister for Planning and Investment Nguyễn Chí Dũng said Danish businesses have provided US$1.32 billion in official development assistance (ODA) to carry out projects in Việt Nam.

He said Việt Nam hopes Denmark would continue to strengthen its cooperative ties to support the rapid and sustainable economic growth of the Southeast Asian country.

For his part, Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs Kristian Jensen said Denmark always attached importance to and proactively promoted co-operation with Việt Nam, particularly in economics, trade and investment.

Denmark is ranked 26th out of the 112 countries and territories investing in Việt Nam, with 128 projects worth US$632 million, focusing on the processing and manufacturing industry, transportation, and logistics across 17 cities and provinces.

The importance of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement in further developing bilateral trade and investment co-operation was also highlighted at the meeting.

On development cooperation, a roadmap for procedural harmonisation was agreed by both sides to further promote the Danida Business Finance programme in Việt Nam, with the aim to finance projects of relevant scales that utilise Danish modern technology and techniques.

Furthermore, the two ministers recognised the importance of the new Strategic Sector Co-operation programmes between Vietnamese and Danish ministries and agencies in the environment, food and agriculture, health care and education sectors.

In addition to the achievements made in economic co-operation and trade, the two ministers also pointed out challenges and measures to further strengthen the role and responsibilities of Government agencies and enterprises from both countries.

They also considered a mechanism for effective exchange of information for timely handling of difficulties and problems for businesses in commercial and investment cooperation.

In the spirit of co-operation through the Joint Governmental Committee’s meeting, the two countries believed that economic cooperation and trade between Việt Nam and Denmark would continue to grow and contribute to the successful implementation of the Action Plan of the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement as committed by both sides. — VNS