On 17 April 2026, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment received and held talks with a delegation led by the State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries. On this occasion, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed the “Memorandum on the Vietnam–Norway Green Strategic Partnership.”

The visit by the State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, together with the signing ceremony of the Memorandum on the Green Strategic Partnership, took place on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1971–2026) between Norway and Vietnam, reflecting the shared aspiration to elevate long-term cooperation to a strategic framework with a forward-looking vision.

PROMOTING GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

At the meeting between Mr. Le Cong Thanh, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam, and Ms. Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad, State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, both sides agreed that the Memorandum on the Green Strategic Partnership would provide a long-term platform for deepening cooperation between the two countries in both the public and private sectors.
The two sides expect to promote joint cooperation in the fields of the green economy and the ocean economy, strengthen collaboration in research and innovation, and foster partnerships that deliver concrete and sustainable results.

They will also work closely together to translate the cooperation framework into concrete actions, making practical contributions to sustainable growth, environmental protection, and long-term prosperity.

At the same time, progress in the negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement between the EFTA countries and Vietnam is expected to further strengthen trade and investment ties, complement the Green Strategic Partnership, and open up additional opportunities for business cooperation.

The Green Strategic Partnership is built on a shared recognition of the urgent need to accelerate the green transition in order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, strengthen climate change response, and ensure the sustainable management of resources.

The two sides will focus on priority areas in which both countries share common interests and complementary expertise, including climate and environment, the circular economy, sustainable forestry, aquaculture and fisheries, green maritime solutions, and a sustainable ocean economy.

These areas help ensure food security, create added value, protect the environment, and promote sustainable and resilient economic growth, reflecting Vietnam’s priorities for green growth while leveraging Norway’s global leadership in climate action and ocean governance. This reaffirms the shared understanding of both countries that economic development and environmental protection must go hand in hand.

The Memorandum on the Green Strategic Partnership establishes an overarching 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 implementation, including pilot initiatives with scaling-up potential. In this regard, the main focus will be on integrated solutions that link environmental protection objectives with economic development, so as to ensure that the transition to a green growth model is both effective and inclusive.

PROMOTING TRADE, INVESTMENT, AND THE ROLE OF BUSINESSES

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 promote closer business cooperation, encourage green investment, and strengthen innovation and technology transfer.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh emphasized:
“Vietnam’s Socio-Economic Development Strategy for the 2021–2030 period identifies green growth and the circular economy as top priorities, with the private sector playing the leading role as the main engine of this process.
This partnership will help improve institutions, mobilize resources, and promote innovation, thereby supporting sustainable development. We expect it to serve as a platform opening up many new opportunities for cooperation, particularly in the circular economy and the sustainable management of the oceans.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will coordinate with the Vietnamese and Norwegian Embassies in each country to promote cooperation with Norwegian partners in sharing experience and improving coherent policies to support the green transition across all areas under the Ministry’s direct responsibility. The Memorandum on the Green Strategic Partnership with Norway clearly demonstrates Vietnam’s commitment to achieving its climate and environmental goals.”

Speaking at the event, Ms. Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad, State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, affirmed:
“The Green Strategic Partnership is an important milestone in Norway–Vietnam relations, built on a foundation of 55 years of close cooperation, while also reinforcing the two countries’ shared commitments on climate and the economy.”

Ms. Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad also noted that the memorandum would create opportunities for business cooperation in the fields of the green economy and the ocean economy, generate jobs, and promote sustainable growth.
According to Ms. Hilde Solbakken, Ambassador of Norway to Vietnam, the Green Strategic Partnership marks a new step forward in cooperation between Norway and Vietnam.

“Norway has strengths in climate policy, a sustainable ocean economy, renewable energy, and green maritime solutions,” the Ambassador emphasized.
“Through this cooperation framework, we wish to work with Vietnam to share experience, promote innovation, and develop sustainable business practices. We are confident in the cooperation potential of enterprises from both countries in implementing practical solutions that contribute to advancing the green transition,” Ambassador Hilde Solbakken said.