Viet Nam - Norway: 55 years of building green cooperation relation

On May 15, the Norwegian Embassy in Viet Nam held a ceremony to celebrate Norway’s Constitution Day (May 17) and the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Norway (1971-2026).

According to Ambassador Hilde Solbakken, amid growing conflicts and tensions in many parts of the world affecting global stability, trade, and energy security, long-standing partnerships built on trust and shared values have become more important than ever.

Ambassador Hilde Solbakken highlighted the strong progress in relations between Norway and Viet Nam, notably marked by the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Green Strategic Partnership between Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment last April. The agreement further aligns the economic and climate ambitions of both countries, with a focus on the green economy, circular economy, and sustainable ocean economy.

Over 55 years of cooperation and development, relations between Norway and Viet Nam have continued to flourish from mutual support and solidarity during difficult times to a comprehensive and forward-looking partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests in trade, sustainable development, and global governance.

This partnership will serve as a framework for government agencies, the private sector, and other stakeholders from both countries to strengthen cooperation, thereby supporting Viet Nam’s green and circular transition efforts.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang extended congratulations to the Government and people of Norway on the occasion of Constitution Day, while highly appreciating Norway’s positive contributions to Viet Nam’s socio-economic development over the years.

The Deputy Minister emphasized: "In the coming period, Viet Nam wishes to work with Norway to build strategic cooperation frameworks in areas where both sides have strong potential and which are of great significance to the development of the two countries, such as the marine economy, energy transition, sustainable development, and climate change response."

Viet Nam will continue to welcome Norwegian businesses, corporations, and investment funds to expand their cooperation and presence in the country, thereby helping translate shared strategic orientations into concrete and substantive cooperation projects that deliver practical benefits to businesses and people in both nations. Both sides also expressed their desire to further strengthen cooperation in addressing global challenges, including climate change response, ocean protection, promoting the green energy transition through the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), green shipping, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

Regarding the significance of Constitution Day, Norwegian Ambassador Hilde Solbakken shared the core values embodied in Norway’s 212-year-old Constitution: democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. She noted that the Norwegian Constitution is a living document, capable of adapting to every era and the challenges of the modern world. When it was adopted in 1814, the Constitution not only reflected the aspiration for independence but also laid the foundation for Norway’s democracy.

To this day, the Constitution’s core principles, separation of powers, the rule of law, and respect for fundamental rights and human dignity continue to serve as guiding values for Norwegian society.