Minister-President of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium Rudi Vervoort has affirmed that he will support improved collaboration between the region and Vietnam and its localities, reported VNA Wednesday.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao (left) receives a souvenir from Minister-President of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium Rudi Vervoort. Photo: Vietnamese embassy

The official made the statement at a meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao on March 8 to discuss cooperative activities between Vietnam and the capital region in the time to come toward the celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam – Belgium diplomatic relations (1973 – 2023).

Thao expressed his desire to strengthen the Vietnam-Belgium ties toward practical outcomes, considering Brussels an important bridge to foster relations between Vietnam and ASEAN, and the EU.

He also informed the Belgian official on Vietnam’s efforts in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change, and in implementing its commitment to sustainable development.

Towards the 50th founding anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations, the ambassador suggested that the two sides need to effectively exploit their available advantages, notably the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the expansion of cooperation in such potential fields as smart city development, urban connectivity, transport infrastructure, digital economy, cultural exchange, education, and tourism.

Thao also asked Brussels to help speed up Belgium’s ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

For his part, Vervoort highly appreciated Vietnam's results in fighting the pandemic and impressive economic recovery achievements in the past year.

He agreed with the diplomat’s proposals for cooperation in the coming time, stating that he is ready to promote the possibility of establishing relations between Brussels and Hanoi.

Despite the adverse impacts of Covid-19, Vietnam-EU trade turnover hit USD 63.6 billion in 2021, posting a year-on-year surge of 15%. Vietnam became the 15th leading trade partner of the EU and the largest one in ASEAN.

Belgium continued to be among major partners of Vietnam in the EU with new investment projects announced last year in renewable energy.

5.3 million Vietnamese people are living abroad, of whom 13,000 stay in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Earlier, on Feb. 23 Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao had a working session with the Chamber of Commerce of West Flanders - one of the five provinces of Flanders in Belgium, where he called on businesses here to intensify research and investment in Vietnam, taking advantage of the Flanders region and the EVFTA to strengthen the economic and trade relations between Vietnam and Belgium in the coming time and contribute to the sustainable recovery of each side.

Participants at the event expressed their interest in pouring capital in Vietnam in the fields of technology, agriculture and beverage distribution.

They also said they hope that Vietnam will facilitate the organisation of market surveys and licensing business establishments.

Chairman of the Western Flanders Chamber of Commerce Lieven Danneels hopes to work closely with the Embassy to promote trade and investment relations between Vietnam and the Flanders region in the coming time.

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