Norway pledged to continue to make Vietnam a priority in s ODA provision and will steer its cooperation with Vietnam to new fields, such as dealing with climate change and developing clean and renewable energy.

 

The pledge was made during Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai’s visit to Norway from June 14-16.

 

During the visit, Deputy PM Hai held talks with the Minister of Industry and Trade, paid a courtesy visit to the Parliament Speaker, and met with the Minister of Environment, Cooperation and Development.

 

At these events, the Norwegian officials highly valued Vietnam ’s socio-economic development gains, particularly those recorded in the fight against poverty and in implementing the UN millennium development goals, and the country’s growing prestige in the international arena.

 

They showed their admiration of the measures Vietnam used to deal with the global economic-financial crisis and said they believed the country will continue to grow sustainably in the coming time.

 

The hosts and guests reached agreement on specific orientations and measures to boost the two countries’ multi-dimensional cooperation, including increasing the exchange of visits at all levels, especially high-level ones, as the two will celebrate their 40 th years of diplomatic ties in 2011.

 

They said the two countries have recorded good developments in their trade and investment although these are still below their potential and not yet up to their desire.

 

The officials noted that both countries should pay attention to creating conditions for their businesspeople to meet and seek investment opportunities and business partnerships.

 

Deputy PM Hai said the Vietnamese government has attached importance to the creation of conditions for Norwegian entrepreneurs, especially those involved in oil and gas, shipbuilding, maritime, clean technology, aquaculture, and information technology, to establish a long-term and effective business in Vietnam.

 

Norway committed to doing all it can to help Vietnamese goods enter its market and then penetrate into the North European market and the European Free Trade Area (EFTA).

 

The sides also agreed to boost their cooperation to encourage more Norwegian investors to invest in infrastructure and energy projects in Vietnam in the form of public-private partnership (PPP).

 

They were satisfied that Vietnam and the EFTA signed in May an agreement to set up a research team aiding negotiations on the establishment of a free trade area between Vietnam and the EFTA.

 

Deputy PM Hai highly valued Norway ’s positive role as the EFTA coordinator in stepping up the establishment of the research team and affirmed Vietnam ’s wish to beef up all-sided cooperation with Norway in particular and the EFTA members in general.

 

The Vietnamese and Norwegian officials underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation in education and training and vowed to speed up this cooperation.

 

Norway pledged to increase scholarships for Vietnamese students and set up research and education partnerships between its universities and research centres and Vietnamese partners.

 

On the occasion, the Hanoi National University signed a cooperation agreement with the Oslo University and the Norwegian Geotechnics Institute.

 

The two countries also underlined the need to boost their cooperation and mutual support in multilateral and international forums.

 

Deputy PM Hai stressed that Vietnam backs Norway ’s efforts to increase its ties with Southeast Asian countries, especially in this year when Vietnam holds the ASEAN Chair.

 

On June 15, Deputy PM Hai cut ribbons to inaugurate the Vietnamese Embassy in Oslo.

 

He attended the Vietnam-Norway Business Forum and visited several leading Norwegian businesses.

 

(VNA)