Welcoming the Delegation to the city as Vietnam and the Netherlands' recent celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations, the city’s Vice Chairman shared that Hai Phong City and Rotterdam (Netherlands) had established cooperative relations early on as their geographic highlights and importance to each respective country aligned. 

As of the moment, the Netherlands’ projects in Hai Phong City amass a capital of over 320 million USD, concentrating on shipbuilding, maritime equipment manufacturing, storage, animal feeds, and commercial purposes. Since 2008, Hai Phong City has sent four delegations to research maritime economic development in the Netherlands. Rotterdam in return also sent ten delegations to Hai Phong to work and explore investment opportunities in maritime here. Besides local cooperations, the universities in Hai Phong have also organized many collaborative activities with research institutes and educational establishments in the Netherlands for teaching and training in shipbuilding. The Vice Chairman of the city People’s Committee expressed hope to continue cooperating with the Netherlands in various fields to optimize both countries’ strengths. 

Thanking the city’s warm and formal welcome, Sergeant Yvonne ban Beusekom expressed positive impressions of the beautiful and friendly port city, claiming the visit a chance to reinforce the countries’ goodwills and cooperations in general and relations between the two nations’ naval forces and armies in particular, promoting friendly exchanges, knowledge and trust following the framework of the Netherlands-Vietnam comprehensive relationship.  

During the visit, the ship’s delegation in command will pay a visit and participate in friendly sports activities in Region 1 High Command of the Vietnamese People’s Navy, as well as visit local historical landmarks./.