Vietnam, Belgium, and the EU to boost green and sustainable co-operation

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and head of the Vietnam Mission to the EU Nguyen Van Thao said that the EU-IPMF gathers nearly 70 delegations from EU member states and more than 40 countries in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as representatives from a number of international organizations.

The initiative was proposed by the EU back in 2022, serving as an important mechanism for the bloc and the Indo-Pacific region to share their evaluations on new developments and trends occurring in the world.

This is along with reviewing achievements and outlining new co-operation orientations and prospects to connect the two regions, thereby further reinforcing solidarity and ties in dealing with common issues of the globe, said Ambassador Thao.

He said that at the forum, the Vietnamese FM will deliver a speech on green transition, which is one of the promising and prioritized areas in the Vietnam-EU partnership, as well as the inevitable trend of the global economy and the development direction of the nation.

Vietnam, one of the countries that are hardest hit by climate change and environmental pollution, is in need of strong collaboration with the international community, including the EU, to mitigate climate change, promote adaptation capacity, and boost sustainable development, the diplomat underlined, emphasizing that this is an area of the EU’s strength.

The EU has also shown a keen interest in increasing strong collaboration with the Vietnamese side to build a model new-style cooperation between the EU and the Indo-Pacific region in this important field, he added.

Meanwhile, the 24th AEMM, which is the first one held in-person after five years due to COVID-19 pandemic, is the continuation and promotion of important results achieved in the recent high-level events, aiming to take the ASEAN-EU relationship to new heights, thereby making it more substantial, effective, and strategic.

With regard to the Vietnam-Belgium relations, Ambassador Thao underscored that ties have seen breakthrough growth over the years, especially after Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to the European country in December, 2022.

The two sides have maintained regular high-level visits, he noted, adding that this year the Belgian King will choose Vietnam for his only official visit outside the EU.

Together with the visits, bustling activities aimed at enhancing economic connectivity and bolstering bilateral trade and investment links over the years have laid a firm foundation for the two sides to optimise their co-operation potential, the diplomat said.

He noted that  Belgium is currently a strategic partner of the Vietnamese side in agriculture, as well as being a promising partner in many other fields such as infrastructure development, seaport, hydrogen, health care, and pharmaceuticals.

Belgium is playing the role of European Council President in the first half of 2024, a factor which will enable the country to help Vietnam to boost ties with the EU, said Ambassador Thao.

In order to strengthen the partnership between Vietnam and the EU, the diplomat suggested that the nation devise comprehensive and systematic strategies aimed at promoting bilateral trade and investment ties in the future, with the identification of prioritized co-operation areas and potential partners. This should be done whilst increasing in-depth trade and investment promotion activities in the EU to deepen mutual understanding and connect businesses, as well as keeping close contact to maintain collaboration momentum, he added.