Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (r) receives Danish Ambassador to Việt Nam Charlotte Laursen in Hà Nội yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Dân

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc thanked Danish Ambassador to Việt Nam Charlotte Laursen for her important contributions to the two countries’ relations while receiving the outgoing diplomat in Hà Nội yesterday. 
Congratulating the ambassador on fulfilling her tasks, Phúc noted with satisfaction the progress in the Việt Nam-Denmark comprehensive partnership in all priority areas, to which Ambassador Laursen greatly contributed. 
Bilateral trade is developing positively, surpassing US$600 million in 2016, he noted, adding that the countries are also promoting cooperation in culture, health care, education, and energy, including wind power – a field that Denmark excels in. 
To help boost Việt Nam’s connections with Denmark and the EU, he asked Denmark to push for the early signing of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement. 
Phúc said he hopes with her experience, the ambassador will continue to support Việt Nam-Denmark relations. He reiterated that Việt Nam treasures ties with Denmark, an important partner of the country in Northern Europe. 
For her part, Ambassador Laursen thanked PM Phúc, the Vietnamese Government, ministries and sectors for providing favourable conditions for her to fulfill tasks during her second term in Việt Nam. She also expressed her delight at Việt Nam’s socio-economic development and the thriving bilateral relations, including the establishment of a comprehensive partnership. 
She noted that bilateral trade is growing well and about 130 Danish companies are now present in Việt Nam. Danish businesses are strong in various fields, and many of them want to engage in trade and retail activities in Việt Nam. 
The ambassador said Việt Nam is facing challenges in some sectors, which are the spheres Denmark has strength in such as green growth, environment, energy, and food.
She pledged to continue supporting Việt Nam-Denmark relations in the future. — VNS