Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Manh Dung highlighted Vietnam’s encouraging achievements over the past years including a 5.32 percent GDP growth in 2009 despite the global financial crisis and becoming one of the leading economies in East Asia.

The Belgian Foreign Minister’s recent visit to Vietnam came at a special time for the Vietnam-Belgium relationship, Dung said, adding that the visit strengthened bilateral cooperation at a moment when Vietnam is about to chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Belgium is about to assume the EU Presidency.

On behalf of the Belgian guests, Georges Pire, Vice Chairman of the Liege provincial Council, applauded the development of bilateral relations in culture, science, education and health.

He wished overseas Vietnamese in Belgium a happy and prosperous New Year.