Party leader arrives in Belgium

The visit was made at the invitation of Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo and President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy.

Upon arrival, Trong was greeted by Secretary General of the Belgian Foreign Minister Dirk Achten, also Vietnam’s honorary consul at Anvers Baron Jo de Grand Ry, along with the Ambassador of the Vatican, several ambassadors from the diplomatic corp, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Pham Sanh Chau.

The visit is the first stopover in the Vietnamese Party leader’s tour of Europe, during which he will also visit the UK and Italy.

At the meeting with Belgian Crown Prince Philippe in Brussels the same day, Trong said Vietnam attaches importance to promoting multifaceted cooperation with Belgium- a country that plays a vital role in the European Union (EU).

He also praised the political role of the Belgian Royal and thanked the Crown Prince for his support for and cooperation with Vietnam over the past years.

Host and guest said that they were delighted with positive developments in the two countries’ friendship and cooperation.

They agreed to maintain high-ranking delegation exchanges, work closely to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2013, and strengthen trade exchange and investment in the fields of Belgium’s strength such as logistic services, seaport development, transport, green technology, space technology, heavy industry and healthcare.

Both sides also stressed that education and training cooperation is the spotlight in bilateral relations with priority given to information technology, biological technology, geology and the environment.

Trong and his delegation laid wreaths at the Unknown Soldiers’ Memorial in Belgium.