ROTTERDAM — The Netherlands’ port city of Rotterdam is keen on expanding multifaceted co-operation with Vietnamese localities, particularly HCM City, Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday.

PM Phuc concluded a four-day (July 8-11) visit to the Netherlands today.

He said areas with high potential for greater co-operation included urban planning, building and management of port infrastructure, navigation training, logistics services, and flood prevention.

Aboutaleb also promised to encourage Rotterdam businesses to invest in Việt Nam in the fields of their strengths.

The Mayor of Rotterdam told the PM that he visited Việt Nam several times and was impressed by the country’s dynamism and development efforts.

"Rotterdam is willing to support HCM City in coping with climate change impacts," he said.

Prime Minister Phúc said he highly valued the close coordination between the two cities over the past few years in climate change adaptation, and recognised the Mayor’s contributions and support for this.

He said the Vietnamese Government paid great attention to boosting comprehensive co-operation with the Netherlands and encouraged localities of both nations to strengthen partnerships in trade and investment and exchange management experiences in urban planning, waste treatment and drainage.

The PM asked the Mayor to call on Rotterdam businesses to increase their presence in Việt Nam and hoped the city would also aid the country’s central and Mekong Delta regions in preventing further erosion, saltwater intrusion, and in dealing with rising sea levels.

Delta Programme

The PM also lauded the Netherlands’ Delta Programme, which was launched in 2010 to prevent flooding, ensure water supply for agriculture and industry, and cope with climate change in urban areas.

At a meeting with Director of the Staff of the Delta Programme Commissioner Hermen Borst, he thanked the Netherlands for supporting Việt Nam in implementing the strategic partnership agreements on climate change adaptation, water management, sustainable agriculture and food security in recent years.

He said Viet Nam was particularly interested in measures to cope with climate change impacts and hoped the Netherlands would provide more assistance with this.

Hermen Borst said he was ready to share his individual experience and support Vietnam in water management and climate change adaptation.

The same day, PM Phúc visited the Rotterdam port – the biggest of its kind in Europe, stretching about 40 kilometres. — VNS