Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the GIfted plays an important role in the history of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands, especially in the history of educational cooperation between the two countries. 

Seeing the brutal months of 1972 in Hanoi, the citizens of Amsterdam (The Netherlands) were greatly worried and wanted to do something to help Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular.

Doctor Samkaden, who was the Mayor at the time, enthusiastically encouraged the people of Amsterdam to donate to build a proper and beautiful high school for Hanoi after reunification. As a result, a high school named Hanoi-Amsterdam was born.

The Dutch Prime Minister visiting Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted.

Right from the beginning of the afternoon, the auditorium was already filled with students waiting to meet Prime Minister Rutte. With him was the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who herself was a former student of the school.

While sharing his thoughts with the students, the Dutch Prime Minister noted that although Hanoi is a city steeped in history, with countless ancient buildings, it is still very much vibrant and busy.

The Dutch PM sharing his thoughts with the school’s teachers and students.

He shared his journey through Hanoi’s streets among carefully preserved ancient buildings with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh this morning. “I could see the huge changes that the city has undergone as well as its energy,” said the PM.

The Dutch Prime Minister also talked about his first visit to Vietnam nearly 10 years ago: on his journey from Hanoi to Hai Phong to visit the Damen shipyard, he had witnessed the beautiful scenery and hospitality that Vietnam has to offer.

Students from Hanoi-Amsterdam High School and their questions for the Dutch Prime Minister

“Witnessing these beautiful scenes, the Dutch Ambassador at the time had told me that even though he had worked all over the world, Vietnam was his favorite place to live and work at,” the Dutch Prime Minister shared. 

After the Prime Minister’s speech during the exchange session, all the initial shyness seemed to have evaporated as many students boldly raised their hands to voice their thoughts and questions to PM Rutte.

Prime Minister Rutte painting the stylized lotus and tulip, which is also the logo commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries

Responding to a student's question about the correlation between ​​replacing human labor with robots and unemployment, the Dutch Prime Minister said that robots are not a problem for the labor market.

“In my view, robots will only increase competition and create new jobs. Afterwards, you see that many new jobs are created, for example in the service industry, or in other industries; there will be developments you do not recognize, where robots cannot help you.

And because of that, I will not be opposed to it, and we can say that it ensures that other traditional economic sectors can prosper as well,” the Dutch Prime Minister stated.

Regarding the role of the youth in the transition of green energy in Vietnam, the Prime Minister emphasized that young people need to be very clearly aware of the ongoing fight for our planet. He said that to adapt to the changes of the climate in the short term, Vietnam must take measures such as those in the Mekong Delta.

For young people, these are fields that promise a lot of potential. He hopes that somehow many of the students will establish companies and think about possibly working in environmental research and development to fight climate change.

Dutch Prime Minister taking a picture with the students of Hanoi-Amsterdam High School.

A student gifting the Prime Minister the Vietnamese conical hat.

Source: Vietnamnet

Interpreter: Han Ya Xian - Cambridge (‘23 - ‘26)