Vietnam-Norway sign Memorandum of Understanding on Green Strategic Partnership
WVR - On April 17, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam met with the delegation from the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries. Concurrently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Vietnam-Norway Green Strategic Partnership.
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| Representatives from Vietnam and Norway at the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony. (Photo: Kim Anh) |
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Mr. Le Cong Thanh, and the Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam, Ms. Hilde Solbakken, with the active support of the Vietnamese Ambassador to Norway, Mr. Dinh Nho Hung, and witnessed by the Norwegian Secretary of State for Trade, Industry, and Fisheries, Ms. Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad. The signing ceremony demonstrated the strong commitment of both countries to enhancing cooperation in green development and the marine economy.
The visit of the Norwegian Secretary of State for Trade, Industry, and Fisheries and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Green Strategic Partnership coincided with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1971-2026) between Norway and Vietnam, reflecting a shared aspiration to elevate long-term cooperation to a strategic and forward-looking framework.
During the meeting between the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment and the Norwegian Secretary of State for Trade, Industry, and Fisheries, both parties agreed that the Memorandum of Understanding on the Green Strategic Partnership establishes a long-term foundation to deepen cooperation between Norway and Vietnam in both the public and private sectors.
Both sides expect to promote joint cooperation in green and marine economies, enhance collaboration in research and innovation, and foster partnerships that yield concrete and sustainable results. They will work closely to translate the cooperation framework into specific actions, contributing practically to sustainable growth, environmental protection, and long-term prosperity.
Simultaneously, progress in the negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement between EFTA countries and Vietnam is expected to further strengthen trade and investment relations, complement the Green Strategic Partnership, and open up more business cooperation opportunities.
Promoting green growth and sustainable development
The Green Strategic Partnership is built on a shared understanding of the urgent need to accelerate the green transition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050; enhance climate change response; and ensure sustainable resource management.
The two sides will focus on priority areas where both countries have mutual interests and complementary experiences, including climate and environment, circular economy, sustainable forestry, aquaculture and fisheries, green maritime solutions, and sustainable marine economy. These areas contribute to ensuring food security, creating added value, protecting the environment, and promoting sustainable, resilient economic growth, reflecting Vietnam's priorities for green growth while leveraging Norway's global leadership in climate action and ocean governance. This affirms the shared understanding of both countries on the synergy between economic development and environmental protection.
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| Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh, and Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam, Ms. Hilde Solbakken, sign the Memorandum of Understanding. |
Enhancing cooperation and sharing experiences
The Green Strategic Partnership Memorandum of Understanding establishes a comprehensive framework to promote systematic policy dialogue, technical cooperation, and joint action. Building on existing cooperative activities, this framework will support the development and implementation of specific initiatives aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Within the framework of the Green Strategic Partnership, cooperative activities will include capacity building, institutional development, knowledge sharing, and joint cooperation, including scalable pilot initiatives. The main focus will be on integrated solutions that align environmental protection goals with economic development, ensuring an effective and inclusive transition to a green growth model.
Promoting trade, investment, and the role of enterprises
Recognizing the crucial role of businesses, the Green Strategic Partnership emphasizes the private sector as a key driver of sustainable transition. Both sides aim to foster closer business cooperation, encourage green investment, and enhance innovation and technology transfer.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh emphasized, “Vietnam's socio-economic development strategy for 2021–2030 identifies green growth and circular economy as top priorities, with the private sector playing a key role. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will coordinate with the Vietnamese and Norwegian embassies in each country to promote cooperation with Norwegian partners, sharing experiences and refining comprehensive policies to support the green transition across all areas under the Ministry's direct responsibility. The Green Strategic Partnership Memorandum of Understanding with Norway clearly demonstrates Vietnam's commitment to achieving climate and environmental goals. This partnership will contribute to institutional improvement, resource mobilization, and innovation promotion, thereby supporting sustainable development. We expect this to be a foundation for opening up many new cooperation opportunities, especially in the circular economy and sustainable ocean management.”
The Norwegian Secretary of State for Trade, Industry, and Fisheries, Ms. Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad, emphasized: “The Green Strategic Partnership is a significant milestone in Norway-Vietnam relations, built on 55 years of close cooperation, while reinforcing the two countries' shared commitments to climate and economy.” She highlighted that “The Memorandum of Understanding will also open up business cooperation opportunities in green and marine economies, creating jobs and promoting sustainable growth.”
Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam, Ms. Hilde Solbakken, stated: “The Green Strategic Partnership marks a new development in cooperation between Norway and Vietnam. Norway has strengths in climate policy, sustainable marine economy, renewable energy, and green maritime solutions. Through this cooperation framework, we aim to share experiences with Vietnam, promote innovation, and develop sustainable business practices. We believe in the potential for cooperation between businesses in both countries in implementing practical solutions to promote the green transition.”
