Participants at the event were the Dutch Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Daniel Stork; Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Nguyen Thuc Hien; members of the Dutch Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City; representatives of Can Tho University and Can Tho municipal departments; representatives of Dutch and Vietnamese businesses, and a large number of students.

2023 is an essential milestone in the history of Vietnam - Netherlands relations, marking the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Netherlands (1973-2023). During the past 50 years, the two countries have determined to promote comprehensive cooperation in crucial areas, such as climate change, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and circular economy, in addition to economic, trade, and development cooperation.

Within the framework of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands, the Dutch Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and the People’s Committee of Can Tho City co-organized a conference on the sustainable development goals (SDG), films featuring Dutch culture, planting 1,000 cork trees to prevent riverbank erosion and a series of seminars have been held during the event, aiming to strengthen trade links, investment, cultural exchange and educational cooperation between the two countries.

Besides, the Vietnam-Netherlands Friendship Association’s Can Tho city convened its congress for the 2023-2028 tenure on September 21, 2023. Over the past term, the Vietnam-Netherlands Friendship Association’s Can Tho city organized activities aiming to promote and courage a friendly and cooperative relationship with the Netherlands; welcoming many delegations, diplomatic missions, and enterprises to the city. Over the past 50 years, the relationship between Vietnam and the Netherlands has grown in a dynamic and effective manner across many fields, benefiting both sides. Many Dutch businesses are interested or expanding investment to Vietnam.

Professor Ha Thanh Toan, Rector of Can Tho University, highlighted cooperation between the university and the Netherlands, thus contributing to the bilateral friendship. Can Tho University and Dutch organizations promote cooperation in education and training, such as exchanging students in the fields of Economics, Foreign Languages, Information Technology, Pedagogy and Law at the University of Groningen and the University of Amsterdam; sending students to study master's and doctoral degrees at Dutch institutions, etc.

Specifically, the university and its Dutch partners have conducted 15 joint projects with a total funding of 395,030 EUR (420,225 USD), and signed six memoranda of understanding and agreements on collaboration in education and training, and scientific research, he added.

Dutch Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Daniel Stork said he is proud of the close solidarity and friendship between the two countries, noting both nations have been aware of upgrading their relationship and working together to address global challenges such as climate change and those regarding sustainable agriculture and water resources management. He expressed his belief that the cooperation between the Netherlands and Vietnam in general and Can Tho particular will grow more fruitfully and intensively in the time ahead.

Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People’s Committee Nguyen Thuc Hien reviewed developments of the bilateral relations over the past 50 years, saying Can Tho has organized diverse activities to celebrate the anniversary.

The comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the Netherlands as well as cooperation between Can Tho and Dutch localities will grow further for the sake of the two countries, and for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world at large, he said.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Thuc Hien wished to receive investors, businesses, teachers, scientists, and tourists from the Netherlands to work and invest in Can Tho City.

Dutch Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Daniel Stork shared his opinions at “The Road to Gender Equality” Workshop

Within the framework of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands, the Dutch Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho University co-organized “The Road to Gender Equality” Workshop to share knowledge on sustainable development goals and solutions to improve gender equality in social, economic and educational aspects, with a special focus on the role of women in the society.