Amsterdam (VNA) – Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc hosted receptions for leaders of several economic groups andorganisations in Amsterdam on July 9 as part of his ongoing official visit to theNetherlands.

Meeting with Chairman of the Board of AustrianVamed Group Ernst Wastler, the PM thanked the group for its help to Vietnam’s publichealthcare system over the past 20 years, particularly in the effectivedisbursement of official development assistance (ODA) loans of the Austriangovernment to modernise the hospital network in Vietnam.

Ernst Wastler said Vamed will continue to work withVietnamese ministries and departments to seek more financial and equipment aidfor Vietnam.

At his meeting with leaders of the Europe-ASEANBusiness Alliance (EABA), PM Phuc spoke highly of the EABA’s role in connectingEuropean and Southeast Asian businesses, especially in providing consultation andassistance to European enterprises in cooperating with Southeast Asiancounterparts.

He stressed that the EU is a leading trade andinvestment partner of Vietnam, and there is great potential for economiccooperation between Vietnam and the EU in general and the Netherland inparticular.

The Vietnamese Government will facilitate EUbusinesses’ investment in Vietnam in infrastructure, support industry, hightechnology, climate change adaptation, renewable energy and environment, hesaid.

He asked the EABA to make use of opportunitiesfrom the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement to boost EU investment in Vietnam andmake inroads into the vast Asian-Pacific market.

EABA leaders said the alliance has beenadmitting members including multinational groups in finance, logistics,automation, agriculture, oil and gas, and healthcare, noting that they are thefields that Vietnam has potential for cooperation.

They affirmed the intention to promote the tradeand investment partnership between ASEAN and the EU, and support the earlysigning of the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement to create a new momentum forVietnam-EU economic collaboration.

During his reception for leaders of theNetherlands-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (NVCC), PM Phuc recognised the activerole of the NVCC in supporting the cooperation between Vietnamese and Dutchcompanies.

He proposed that the NVCC along with the Netherlands’business community push the early signing and implementation of the Vietnam-EUfree trade agreement as it will have strong impacts on the two countries’ traderelations.

The PM also sought NVCC’s help in encouragingDutch firms to increase trade, investment and tourism cooperation with Vietnamvia arranging delegation exchanges and fact-finding tours.

NVCC leaders pledged to work harder to connectthe business communities of th two countries. -VNA