Hanoi's authorities highly value and want to intensify cooperation with Norway’s localities in a wide range of issues, said Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung while hosting a reception for Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Grete Lochen on December 6.At the reception, the two sides rejoiced at the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Norway, which has been constantly strengthened for the past time.
Scene at the meeting. Photo: Kinhtedothi.vn
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Chung noted that 4,300 foreign companies now operate in the city, contributing 13% of Hanoi’s annual budget revenue. In the development program for the period of 2016-2020, Hanoi identifies three breakthroughs: infrastructure investment, high-qualified human resources training and administrative reform.
The capital also focuses on sustainable economic development, overcoming environmental pollution, use of renewable energy, building e-government towards a smart city. Hanoi also seeks to apply European technologies in many fields, especially agricultural processing to increase the value of export products, Chung added.
On the basis, the chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee expected the Norwegian Embassy in Vietnam will act as a bridge connecting the two countries, as well as supporting tourism cooperation between Hanoi and Norwegian localities.
Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung congratulated Ambassador Grete Lochen on her new tenure in Vietnam, and wished that she will help promote cooperation between between Hanoi and Norway’s localities, so that they can exchange technology in economic development, education, production, healthcare and smart city construction, among others.
Besides, Hanoi wishes to partner with Norwegian companies in renewable energy development, especially waste-to-energy technology, energy efficiency, and exchange experience in climate change, Chung said.
Chung also took the occasion to request the Norwegian Embassy work closely with the municipal People’s Committee to organize activities in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Norway diplomatic ties in 2021.
For her part, Ambassador Grete Lochen said she was impressed by Hanoi’s positive development, asserting that her goal in this term is to keep promoting cooperation between the two countries, as well as Hanoi and Norway’s localities.
Grete Lochen pointed out that one of the Norwegian government’s goals is to promote the marine economy, with many policies to protect and develop marine resources. This can be seen as a potential field of cooperation between the two sides, and Norway is always ready to exchange its experience, she added.
In addition, sustainable energy and renewable energy are also a potential field between the two sides. An increasing number of Norwegian businesses are interested in investing in Vietnam, according to the Ambassador.
