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Dutch Days underway in Da Lat

Friday, June 08, 2018

Two-day event being organized as part of celebrations of 45 years of Vietnam - Netherlands diplomatic relations.

“Dutch Days” opened on June 8 and will end on June 9 in Da Lat in the central highlands province of Lam Dong, held by the Embassy and Consulate General of the Netherlands to celebrate 45 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands and further promote the country in an area where bilateral trade and investment relations have been active for a long time.

With a theme surrounding sustainable agriculture, the two-day event kicked off with a meeting between the Deputy Chairman of the Lam Dong Provincial People’s Committee Pham S and a delegation of Dutch enterprises operating in the province, led by Consul General Carel Richter.

Da Lat and the nearby region has a temperate climate and have always been an agricultural hotspot, providing vegetables and flowers to major cities. Since the arrival of foreign enterprises, Lam Dong has emerged as a leading example in high-tech agriculture, with nearly 50,000 ha, or 18 per cent of the province’s agricultural land, using high-tech methods.

Deputy Chairman Pham S emphasized that Lam Dong has approved a plan on sustainable agriculture production chains, under which it aims to supply 90 per cent of the chains’ products. Committed Dutch companies with a passion for sustainability, he went on, are always welcome in Lam Dong.

It was agreed that the Netherlands, as the world’s second-largest exporter of agri-food, will continue to share its knowledge and experience with Vietnam and with Lam Dong in particular. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to working alongside each other for mutual benefit.

Following the meeting was a seminar entitled “Where does our food come from? - Dutch solutions for sustainable food production in Vietnam”. Dutch and Vietnamese companies were invited to the seminar to share their stories in applying Dutch approaches in the Vietnamese context.

“As a responsibility to all the coming generations who also want to live in a clean and healthy environment with enough food to eat, Vietnam and the Netherlands have a common mission and a mutual responsibility to contribute to find solutions for the challenges we face,” said Mr. Richter. “The development of sustainable agricultural systems is key and we, the Netherlands and Vietnam, are already working on that with common enthusiasm, awareness, knowledge and technology.”

The second day of the event will be all about culture, arts, music, and the people of the two countries. A vibrant flash mob dance from Dutch Lady dairy company set off the first day, drawing attention to Lam Vien Square, where an orange-colored Dutch corner also features flowers from Da Lat Hasfarm.

A large bike ride, carrying logos and messages noting the 45 years of diplomatic relations and involving about 100 riders, created an orange tinge around Xuan Huong Lake, the heart of Da Lat.

A pop-up museum with 16 masterpieces by Dutch painters allowed visitors to learn more about Dutch culture, which is also being featured in a range of activities such as mini quiz, food tasting, and story-telling.

“Dutch Days” will also be held in Hai Phong, in September and Can Tho in November, to again celebrate the two countries’ cooperation and generate new opportunities.

Source: Vn Economic Times

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