Viet Nam and Norway are accelerating negotiations toward the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a Green Strategic Partnership between Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Building on effective cooperation and strong political trust, the proposed MoU is expected to establish a comprehensive legal framework to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in line with international commitments on green growth and sustainable development.
On February 10, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung received Norwegian Minister of International Development Asmund Grover Aukrust.
Blue economy cooperation in focus
Deputy Minister Hoang Trung said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Norway has been an active and reliable development partner of Viet Nam in fisheries, forestry, environmental protection and climate change adaptation. Through official development assistance (ODA), technical cooperation and expert exchanges, the Norwegian government has contributed to strengthening Viet Nam’s capacity in natural resource management, environmental protection and sustainable development.
He highlighted the ministry’s five-year development plan aligns with major policy orientations on green growth, climate change response and sustainable development, consistent with documents adopted at the 14th National Party Congress. The blue economy has been identified as a key growth driver in the coming period.
Minister Aukrust said both countries have long coastlines and significant potential in fisheries, offshore wind power and other blue economy sectors. Norway has extensive experience in sustainable fisheries, offshore wind development, green maritime technology and integrated marine resource management, he said.
Norway has worked with international partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to support Viet Nam in the formulation and implementation of its National Marine Spatial Planning, an important instrument to balance ecosystem conservation with efficient and sustainable use of marine space.
Deputy Minister Hoang Trung emphasized Viet Nam has progressively developed and improved its legal framework on the protection of marine and island resources and the environment, while continuing to review and amend regulations to ensure effective and sustainable use of marine space.
The ministry is implementing an integrated approach to marine and island management, linking conservation of marine resources with the development of emerging marine industries, including offshore wind power and high-tech aquaculture, he said. Relevant units have been tasked with developing solutions to harness marine potential in line with natural conditions while ensuring marine ecosystem protection.
The Norwegian side said ocean protection is not only a driver of economic development but also a shared responsibility amid rising marine pollution and climate change. Norway expressed its readiness to continue supporting Viet Nam in ocean plastic pollution control, integrated coastal zone management, coastal corridor protection and strengthening marine management capacity.
Viet Nam hopes Norway will continue to provide technical assistance, share experience and transfer technology solutions to support the development of a sustainable blue economy, making the sea a key growth engine of the national economy.
Forest protection, carbon markets seen as key cooperation areas
Discussing forest protection and carbon markets, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung said Viet Nam has more than 14 million hectares of forests with diverse ecosystems. In recent years, Viet Nam has implemented comprehensive measures on forest protection, forest fire prevention and control, limiting forest land-use conversion and maintaining forest cover in line with government targets.
Viet Nam has also gradually developed a legal framework for the measurement, reporting and verification, accounting and trading of carbon credits, particularly in the forestry sector. With support from international partners, including Norway and the UN-REDD Programme, Viet Nam signed and implemented the Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) for the North Central region with the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), successfully issuing and transferring forest carbon credits.
The Norwegian side welcomed these results as evidence of Viet Nam’s strong commitment and implementation capacity in forest protection and emission reduction. The Norwegian ambassador said Viet Nam should further accelerate efforts to seize new cooperation opportunities, particularly within the LEAF Coalition, to expand forest carbon markets and enhance access to international climate finance.
Deputy Minister Hoang Trung said Viet Nam seeks continued support from Norway in sharing experience, refining the legal framework and strengthening implementation capacity for carbon market development, thereby protecting forest resources while mobilizing additional resources for sustainable development.
Based on positive cooperation outcomes and consensus reached at the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their determination to soon sign the MoU on a Green Strategic Partnership between Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish a comprehensive, long-term cooperation framework in priority areas.
Deputy Minister Hoang Trung expressed the ministry is expediting internal procedures in accordance with the Law on International Agreements and consulting relevant ministries and agencies before submitting the proposal to the Prime Minister for consideration, paving the way for the signing of the MoU at the earliest possible time. The agreement is expected to provide an important legal basis to further advance and operationalize Viet Nam–Norway cooperation in a green and sustainable direction.
Viet Nam and Canada have agreed to strengthen practical cooperation in environment, clean energy, natural resource management, trade and investment, aiming toward green, low-emissions growth and sustainable development. The two sides described this cooperation as a long-term foundation for deepening bilateral relations amid global climate change and economic transformation.
Viet Nam and the United States have agreed to strengthen cooperation in developing and implementing the “Trade in Agriculture and Food Safety Expanded” (TAFSE) project under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food for Progress Program.
Reviewing the performance of the agriculture and environment sector in 2025 and the 2021–2025 period, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the Ministry’s growing role in integrating agricultural development with natural resource governance and environmental protection, contributing to Viet Nam’s socio-economic growth and international commitments.
Amid mounting environmental challenges across the region, Viet Nam continues to uphold its role as the national focal point and coordinator in ASEAN environmental cooperation, participating fully and responsibly in regional mechanisms and cooperation programs. At the same time, practical implementation has underscored the need to renew participation approaches, moving toward greater proactiveness and closer alignment with national policy priorities.
After one year of implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has completed a large volume of tasks related to science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, with no overdue assignments. At a review conference held on December 23, participants assessed initial results while highlighting key challenges and priorities for the next phase, as the focus shifts from task completion to generating tangible impacts for governance, production, and livelihoods.
