Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang receives Norwegian Ambassador Hilde Solbakken
WVR - On the morning of January 8, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang met with Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken to discuss directions and measures to promote bilateral cooperation on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1971-2026).
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| Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang meets Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken. |
During the meeting, Deputy Minister Thu Hang expressed her pleasure at meeting Ambassador Hilde Solbakken again, affirming that Vietnam always values the development of traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Norway. Over half a century since the establishment of diplomatic relations on November 25, 1971, the cooperation between the two countries has made remarkable progress in various fields.
Deputy Minister Thu Hang appreciated the efforts of Ambassador Hilde Solbakken and the Norwegian Embassy in promoting bilateral relations in recent times; both sides agreed to maximize each other's strengths and needs, opening up new opportunities for cooperation in green transition, circular economy, and climate change response.
To deepen political-diplomatic relations, the Deputy Minister proposed that both sides enhance delegation exchanges and high-level contacts across all Party, State, and people channels.
Towards the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Norway diplomatic relations (November 25, 1971 - November 25, 2026), Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang suggested that both sides coordinate to organize practical activities to further strengthen friendship, mutual understanding, and effective cooperation between the two countries and peoples, such as cultural and culinary promotion events, business forums, and thematic seminars in major cities of both sides.
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| During the meeting, the Deputy Minister urged Norway, as a coordinator within the EFTA bloc, to expedite the completion of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between Vietnam and the EFTA bloc. |
Regarding economic cooperation, the Deputy Minister urged Norway, in its role as a coordinator within the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein – to expedite the completion of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between Vietnam and the EFTA bloc in a manner that harmonizes interests. Additionally, she encouraged Norwegian investment funds and enterprises to increase their investments in Vietnam and continue supporting Vietnam in implementing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) framework.
Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Hilde Solbakken expressed agreement with the positive assessments, directions, and measures to promote bilateral cooperation proposed by Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang.
The Ambassador affirmed that Vietnam holds a very important role and position in the region and that Norway wishes to enhance cooperation, elevating the relationship between the two countries to a new level. She expressed a desire for both sides to soon organize the 10th Deputy Foreign Minister-level Political Consultation in Oslo and sign a visa exemption agreement for diplomatic passport holders to facilitate delegation exchanges between the two countries.
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| Towards the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Norway diplomatic relations (November 25, 1971 - November 25, 2026), Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang suggested that both sides coordinate to organize practical activities to further strengthen friendship, mutual understanding, and effective cooperation between the two countries. |
Ambassador Solbakken also suggested that both sides enhance cooperation and support each other in multilateral forums, including the United Nations and the ASEAN-Norway framework. She emphasized addressing global challenges together, seizing and leveraging cooperation opportunities in green transition and sustainable development, and expressed confidence in the progress of the FTA negotiations between Vietnam and EFTA this year, contributing to promoting bilateral and interregional trade and investment.
The Ambassador stated that plans are in place and that she will actively coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant ministries, sectors, and localities of both sides to implement activities commemorating the 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Norway diplomatic relations in 2026.
