A seminar entitled, “25 years of Vietnam’s economic reform” was held in Brussels by the European Intitute for Asian studies with the participation of international researchers, diplomatic corps and journalists.

Addressing the seminar on Oct. 11, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Cao Viet Sinh, who was on a working visit to Belgium, informed participants of Vietnam’s achievements in socio-economic fields since 1986, along with details of annual growth of the nation’s gross domestic product and its integration into the world’s economy.

Deputy Minister Sinh spoke of difficulties and obstacles to Vietnam’s development, particularly in the context of the world’s economic instability.

He presented, the nation’s of monetary and investment policies to stabilise its economy, stressing Vietnam encourages investment in rural areas to ensure social welfare, especially facilitating rural workers’ return to production in case jobs in industries are cut down.

For his part, Deputy Head of the Asian Department’s Southeast Asia Unit of the European External Relations Service, Philippe Van Amersfoort said the European Union (EU) highlighted Vietnam’s economic achievements over recent years, saying that the EU is interested in bilateral trade as well as Vietnam’s policies for foreign companies.

The EU remains an important trade partner for Vietnam, he said.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Pham Sanh Chau emphasised the great potential for expanding all-round cooperative relations with Vietnam./.