Viet Nam and Denmark have enjoyed their established traditional relations with that in trade growing significantly. Denmark’s ambition is to double its export turnover to Viet Nam in the next five years.
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Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Danish counterpartHelle Thorning Schmidt, Ha Noi, November 8, 2012 - Photo: VGP
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Denmark officially established its diplomatic relations with Viet Nam on November 25, 1971, making itself one of the first Western countries which recognized and established diplomatic ties with Viet Nam.
In the meantime, Denmark is actively supporting Viet Nam in its doi moi (renewal) process as well as international economic integration. The two countries have regularly exchanged high-level official delegations.
Denmark is also one of Viet Nam’s leading ODA donors among the EU partners. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Denmark has supported Viet Nam with over US$1 billion in ODA. Most of this capital have been used for infrastructure development, poverty reduction, administrative reform, environmental protection, assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises, and coping with climate change.
Viet Nam-Denmark co-operation has developed fruitfully. Bilateral trade between the two countries has reached US$290 million. In 2012, Denmark had more than 100 valid projects with a total registered capital of over US$625 million, ranking 25th out of the 96 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam.
In 2013, Denmark will provide US$57 million in ODA for Viet Nam for projects to encourage green growth and energy efficiency and cope with climate change. Besides, it will also provide an additional US$14 million to support small and medium-sized enterprises to enhance energy efficiency.
Right after 1993, when the US lifted its embargo on Viet Nam, Denmark was one of the first countries aiding Viet Nam and fisheries development was one of its priorities with assistance given to two projects to evaluate aquatic resources (ALMAV) and improve the quality and export of fisheries (SEAQIP).
The two governments have considered and decided on supporting the Vietnamese fisheries, from separate projects to integrated program. Since then, the Fisheries Sector Programme Support to Viet Nam Phase 1 (2001-05) and Phase 2 (2006-12) have been built and implemented.
Apart from supporting green growth, the Danish ODA for Viet Nam in the coming years will also support public management and cultural exchanges. By which, from now until 2015, Denmark will provide US$3 million a year for cultural performance and exchange activities between the two countries.
The visit to Viet Nam of Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt in November 2012 was a clear signal of the two countries’ strong bilateral relations.
The Danish Prime Minister had meetings and talks with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. She also introduced and launched a new Danish growth strategy for working with Viet Nam as a new step to reach a comprehensive development agreement, which is expected to be signed in Copenhagen in 2013.
With all the best that the two countries have offered to each other in the previous years, we have a strong belief that bilateral relations would gain more successes and expand in realistic co-operation field for the benefit of both sides and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world. /.