Belgium values Vietnam’s position globally, desires to promote cooperation
VOV.VN - Belgium highly values Vietnam’s increasing position globally and wants to rev up cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation, said senior Belgian leaders.
President of the Senate Stephanie D'Hose, President of the Chamber of Representatives Eliane Tillieux, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions were speaking during their separate meetings in Brussels on February 1-2 with Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.
Meeting with the Vietnamese diplomat, Senate president D’Hose expressed her impression with Vietnam’s dynamic development and the gains recorded in multifaceted cooperation between Belgium and Vietnam, including cooperation between the Belgian Federal Parliament and the Vietnamese National Assembly in recent times.
She revealed that the two parliaments would soon sign a cooperation agreement and that Belgium would soon undertake projects to support Vietnam in cleaning up dioxin. She also voiced her support for the European Parliament (EP) to soon have resolutions and actions to support Vietnam in the domain.
Receiving the Vietnamese diplomat, President of the Chamber of Representatives Eliane Tillieux said she would lobby the two houses of the Belgian parliament to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
She noted that the Belgian Chamber of Representatives’ recent approval of a Resolution in support of Vietnamese dioxin victims delivers a strong message to the international community to lend a helping hand to Vietnamese dioxin sufferers. She said Belgium would assist its businesses to engage in implementing detoxification projects in Vietnam in an attempt to realise the Resolution.
Minister Son for his part affirmed that Vietnam always wants to comprehensively strengthen friendly relations and cooperation with Belgium. He thanked the Belgian Parliament for passing the Resolution supporting Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, which he said demonstrates Belgium’s support for overcoming the consequences of the war in Vietnam.
He also proposed that the Belgian Federal Parliament ratify the EVIPA to maximize the potential for bilateral investment cooperation, and at the same time lobby the European Commission to soon remove the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing warnings against Vietnamese seafood exported to Europe.
During the talks with the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Son said that Vietnam always values its relations with Belgium, an important partner in the EU, and it wishes to further promote Vietnam-Belgium relations, especially their strategic partnership on agriculture.
Minister Hadja Lahbib for her part shared the view that relations between Vietnam and Belgium are developing positively, and Belgium wants to promote multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam, especially in politics - diplomacy and economics - trade.
While viewing economic cooperation as an important pillar in Vietnam - Belgium relations, the two Ministers encouraged businesses from both sides to enhance cooperation in new fields such as high technology, semiconductor chips, and energy transition. They expected that the two business communities would fully tap into opportunities brought about by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
Lahbib said Belgium would consider drawing up an agricultural cooperation programme between Vietnam and Belgian regions. It can also assist Vietnam to develop circular agriculture and smart agriculture models, and to respond to climate change.
She also proposed that the Government of Vietnam create favourable conditions for Belgian firms to expand investment and business in Vietnam, especially in high-tech and energy transition industries.
Both host and guest agreed that Vietnam and Belgium introduce joint cooperation projects to implement the Chamber’s Resolution to support Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of war, including detoxifying areas affected by Agent Orange/dioxin and supporting the victims.
The two sides also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, affirming to further coordinate closely and support each other at multilateral organizations and forums, especially the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO), while promoting the ASEAN - EU Strategic Partnership framework.
