Vietnam and Belgium look to broaden strategic partnership
VOV.VN - Vietnam and Belgium are looking to deepen their longstanding relationship through stronger political coordination and more substantive cooperation in trade, investment, maritime logistics and high technology.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung and Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation Maxime Prévot discussed these areas in Brussels on October 22, during the official visit to European Union and Belgium by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President To Lam.
Strengthening political ties and turning commitments into action
Trung welcomed the positive development of bilateral relations, particularly following the Belgian King and Queen’s State visit to Vietnam in April 2025. He described leader To Lam’s visit as an important opportunity for the two countries’ senior leaders to exchange views and set directions for a higher-level framework of strategic and practical cooperation.
Vietnam regards Belgium as an important partner in Europe and sees scope to build on more than five decades of diplomatic ties by elevating bilateral cooperation to a more strategic level, he told his host.
He also thanked Belgium’s Foreign Ministry for its close coordination in preparing the visit and welcomed the Belgian Federal Parliament’s adoption of a resolution in October 2023 calling for support for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange.
Trung expressed particular appreciation for Prévot’s efforts to advance ratification of the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and welcomed the Belgian Federal Parliament’s early approval of the agreement.
The Vietnamese minister proposed that the two foreign ministries strengthen their coordinating role in implementing the outcomes and directions agreed by the countries’ senior leaders. He also called for closer defence and security cooperation, stronger political trust and effective implementation of bilateral agreements.
Trung also proposed making science, technology and innovation a new focus of bilateral ties, with opportunities in semiconductors, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and high-tech agriculture.
Belgium suggests fostering economic ties
Prévot, for his part, welcomed leader To Lam’s visit as an opportunity to consolidate political trust and open new avenues for cooperation. He reaffirmed Belgium’s regard for its relationship with Vietnam, praised the country’s socio-economic achievements and growing international role, and expressed his readiness to strengthen coordination between the two foreign ministries to follow through on the visit’s outcomes.
Prévot shared the interest in advancing economic, trade and investment ties, particularly in sectors where Belgium has strengths, including ports, logistics, high technology and sustainable development. He also supported making greater use of cooperation opportunities between Vietnam and Belgium’s regions and communities.
On regional and international affairs, the two ministers underscored the importance of multilateralism, respect for international law, dialogue and peaceful settlement of disputes. They discussed closer coordination and mutual support at the United Nations and other multilateral forums, as well as efforts to advance Vietnam–EU, Belgium–ASEAN and ASEAN–EU relations, contributing to peace, stability and sustainable development.
Vietnam values EU as priority partner, seeks deeper strategic ties
VOV.VN - Vietnam regards the European Union (EU) as one of its priority partners and seeks to make the Vietnam–EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership deeper, more substantive and more effective.
