To Lam attends high-level roundtable with major European, Belgian businesses
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Belgian Ambassador to Viet Nam
The Belgian Prime Minister hailed Viet Nam's growing standing and role in the Asia-Pacific region and on the international stage and its impressive socio-economic development achievements, affirming that Belgium regards Viet Nam as its top priority partner in Southeast Asia.
To Lam, for his part, spoke highly of Belgium's central role and important position within the European Union (EU). He also appreciated the Belgian Chamber of Representatives's decision to adopt a resolution in October 2023 supporting Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange, reflecting the Belgian people's friendship, solidarity, and profound humanitarian spirit.
The top Vietnamese leader called on Belgium to encourage major corporations to expand their investments in Viet Nam, affirming Viet Nam's strong commitment to establishing a favorable and secure business and investment environment for Belgian enterprises operating in the country over the long term.
He urged Belgium to continue supporting Viet Nam-EU relations, maximize the benefits of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and encourage the European Commission (EC) to promptly lift the "yellow card" warning against Vietnamese seafood exports.
Both sides agreed on the need to further strengthen political trust, maintain exchanges, and deepen their understanding, with a determination to elevating the bilateral relations to a new level.
They vowed to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, particularly high-level visits across all channels; effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms and agreements; and boost diverse connections between Vietnamese ministries, agencies, and localities and Belgium's federal and regional governments, paving the way for upgrading bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership in the near future.
The two sides pledged to make defense and security cooperation an important pillar of their new bilateral relationship, focusing on the areas of training, military medicine, United Nations peacekeeping, law enforcement, and information sharing.
The host and the guest vowed to achieve new breakthroughs and promote large-scale, strategic cooperation projects in areas where Belgium has traditional strengths and Viet Nam has urgent needs, including seaport development, smart logistics chains, green energy, eco-industrial parks, and climate-resilient, high-tech agriculture.
There are ample room for both sides to speed up collaboration in science and technology, they noted, pledging to promote joint research projects, technology transfer, and collaboration in strategic and emerging technology sectors, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and semiconductor chips.
The two leaders concurred to expand educational links, promote cultural, sports, and tourism exchanges, and strengthen local-to-local exchanges.
They underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, freedom, security, and safety of navigation and overflight and upholding multilateralism and respect for international law, while supporting ASEAN's central role in the Asia-Pacific region.
Both sides affirmed to step up close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums and international organizations, particularly the United Nations, the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), and within the framework of the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership.
The two leaders reaffirmed their strong political resolve to further develop substantive and effective bilateral relations that deliver tangible benefits to their peoples and make a positive contribution to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and around the world./.
