Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Grete Lochen (Photo: MOFA)
Reporter: In the context of the entire world being badly affected by COVID-19, how did it affect the Norway-Vietnam cooperation in 2021, particularly in light of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries (1971- 2021)?
Ambassador Grete Lochen: 2021 was the second year we’ve had to live with COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, which has been affecting Vietnam more negatively than in 2020, many of our plans have been changed, but “thanks to it” we’ve learned how to be flexible, creative and adaptive. In this context, several activities of ours, including a big International Conference on Sustainable Ocean Economy and Climate Change Adaptation, were postponed and visits cancelled.
However, we still managed to hold numerous hybrid events to commemorate the 50 years of cooperation between our two countries. Among them, we want to highlight the signing of Letter of Intent between the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on strengthening and developing cooperation in marine aquaculture industry on the sideline of a Webinar on developing Vietnam’s marine aquaculture on industrial scale organized by the Norwegian Embassy, Innovation Norway, MARD and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). Norway and Vietnam have enjoyed four decades of bilateral cooperation in the fisheries sector, and this Letter of Intent serves as a good foundation for the two countries to explore the potential of marine aquaculture industry in Vietnam with considerations for sustainability and protection of oceans resources.
I would also like to highlight hybrid events related to waste management, marine littering and circular economy as well as renewable energy, especially offshore wind. With our long expertise and world class offshore technology, Norway is very well positioned to share its experiences with Vietnam. Norway’s leading companies in renewable energy, both solar and offshore wind, are very interested in contributing to Vietnam’s greener and cleaner energy transition, as well as developing the local supply chain. The combination of Vietnam’s long coastline, abundant wind resources and your strong marine and offshore industries makes for a great potential for offshore wind. I’m very pleased to learn that Norway’s largest and leading energy company, Equinor, is ready to establish a representative office and cooperate with key Vietnamese partners such as PetroVietnam. Vietnam’s announcement of its 2050 net zero target at COP26 in Glasgow last year sends an important signal of its commitment to a low-carbon future, and Norway is ready to cooperate with Vietnam in investing and developing renewable energy.
We were also able to organize two hybrid cultural exchange events in the context of our 50th anniversary through the Grand Opening of the new Munch Museum in Norway’s Oslo city and an exhibition of art works by Vietnamese and Norwegian artists in the Norwegian residence in Hanoi. I was very happy to connect, although virtually, Vietnamese and Norwegian museums and artists as well as professionals and experts in the cultural field, and hope that they can build closer cooperation from there. It’s all about connecting people with each other!
Frankly speaking, with all the challenges related to the pandemic, we had a great 2021.
Reporter: In 2021, the pandemic has, of course, affected the trade and investment activities between Norway and Vietnam. How do you assess the trade volumes between the two countries over the past year and what, in your opinion, should be done to further promote bilateral trade to untap the potential?
Ambassador Grete Lochen: Despite the pandemic, it is encouraging to see that two-way trade between the two countries have been increasing steadily from year to year. Vietnamese export to Norway is higher than Norwegian export to Vietnam. Vietnam’s export is strong on electronics, textiles and footwear, while Norway is strong on fish export, especially our famous fresh salmon, but export of mackerel and live king crab is steadily increasing.
In addition to investment and cooperation activities of Norwegian private companies, in 2021 the total investments by National Government Pension Fund of Norway, one of the world’s largest investment funds, in Vietnamese companies valued at USD 586,006,566, increased from USD 478 million in 2020.
Despite these positive developments, many have agreed that there is a great potential to further boost trade and investment between our two countries. I believe that the early conclusion of a comprehensive and modern free trade agreement between Vietnam and Norway through the European Free Trade Association, EFTA (which includes Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) will be an important tool in realizing the significant potential for further trade and investment between Vietnam and the bloc including Norway.
Norwegian Ambassador was presented Award of Honor for her contributions to gender equality and improvement of female cadres’ capacity by Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Photo: MOFA)
Reporter: In 2021, Vietnam and Norway, for the first time in history, both worked on the UN Security Council as non-permanent members. How do you assess the importance of this fact in helping Vietnam and Norway to show the consistency in their roles and voices in finding solutions to the international/global issues? How did you see Vietnam’s performance during its UNSC membership term 2020-2021?
Ambassador Grete Lochen: First of all, congratulations on Vietnam’s excellent fulfillment of your two-year membership on the Council. Although Norway worked with Vietnam on the UNSC for only one year (2021), we have been closely following Vietnam’s actions in the Council since January 2020. Your excellent performance in the Council as a proactive, professional and responsible member has definitely elevated the country’s reputation in the regional setting, as well as among the broader international community.
We have observed Vietnam’s proactive role in addressing various important issues of your priorities including women, peace and security; mine action; and protection of civilians, as well as enhancing the role of regional organizations such as ASEAN in regional peace and security efforts. We have also seen your active collaboration with other members of the Council in the search for constructive and balanced solutions as well as in reaching broad consensus on resolutions and statements from the UNSC.
Norway and Vietnam shared many of the same priorities in the Council, including women, peace and security, protection of civilians, as well as climate change and security. We have appreciated the close dialogue with Vietnam on these issues, which we will continue after Vietnam has left the Council both bilaterally and in multilateral forums such as the UN and ASEAN.
Reporter: In January 2022, Norway holds the presidency of UNSC, what would be Norway’s priority areas in order to promote cooperation and enhance the roles as well as voices of the Council members with regard to the issues on the UNSC agenda?
Ambassador Grete Lochen: In addition to leading the Council’s work to promote international peace and security, Norway will organise a number of thematic meetings focusing on its identified priority areas. Norway’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs are planning to visit New York in January and will chair some of the meetings. In its work in the Security Council, Norway attaches great importance to transparency and inclusion. In recent years, fewer representatives of civil society organisations have been invited to address the Council. We will invite civil society representatives, in particular women, to brief the Security Council. It is important that Norway does its part to give a voice to those who are most severely affected by violence and conflict.
We will also hold signature events during our Presidency. One of them will be a ministerial-level open debate on 18 January under the theme “Protecting participation: addressing violence targeting women in peace and security processes”. It is chaired by Norway’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anniken Huitfeldt. Women peacebuilders and human rights defenders play a crucial role in conflict prevention and sustaining peace and that role should be recognised. We will therefore make sure that these voices are heard in the Council.
The high-level open debate on 25 January on protection of civilians under the theme “Wars in cities: protection of civilians in urban settings” will be chaired by our Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and will hear briefings from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Peter Maurer and a civil society representative.
As part of its presidency, Norway will also organize an informal gathering for the UN Ambassadors of the Security Council and the UN Secretary-General to discuss preventive diplomacy and peace mediation efforts. The entry point for the discussions will be peace diplomacy as a Norwegian priority area and Norway’s experience with peace and reconciliation efforts.
Reporter: As Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam, what is your plan for 2022 to intensify the bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries? Do you have any message to readers of the Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper?
Ambassador Grete Lochen: 2021 marked the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between our two countries. What a journey! What we have both achieved in the past 5 decades has certainly laid a strong foundation for us to continue.
As partners, both bilaterally and multilaterally at the UN and ASEAN, Norway and Vietnam will continue working together in the areas of multilateralism, sustainable ocean economy, including marine littering, and climate change with a special focus on renewable energy. I do hope we will see a conclusion of the free trade negotiations between Vietnam and the EFTA countries in 2022, which will benefit both our countries in further enhancing trade and investment.
Once again, we commend the bold announcement by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at COP26 regarding zero emissions and phasing out coal power plants in Vietnam. Norway and our businesses stand ready to support Vietnam’s efforts in implementing the country’s commitments and ensuring sustainable and greener economic growth, leaving no one behind.
On the occasion of Lunar New Year 2022 of the Tiger, I wish readers of the CPV Online Newspaper and the people of Vietnam a happy, peaceful and safe Tet. Let’s hope for a brighter 2022 for everyone and let’s work together to achieve it.
Reporter: Thank you very much./.