Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo witness the signing of several cooperation agreements. (Photo: VNA) Speaking at the talks, which took place following awelcome ceremony for the Vietnamese leader at Egmont Palace the same day,Croo stressed that Chinh’s visit is of great significance as it contributes totaking the bilateral relationship into a new development period and making itmore intensive, practical and effective, especially in trade and investment.
The host PM affirmed that Belgium attachesimportance to Vietnam’s role and position in Asia-Pacific.
The two spoke of the socio-economic situation ineach country, the bilateral collaboration and regional and international issuesof shared concern in a candid manner.
They rejoiced at positive developments of thebilateral relations despite impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with regularcontact and thriving trade-investment ties, saying many Belgian projects areoperating successfully in the Southeast Asian nation.
Chinh used the occasion to thank the Belgian government and people for their donation of COVID-19 vaccines, helping Vietnam pushback the pandemic, reopen its doors, and recover the national economy.
The PMs agreed on major orientations and measures tofoster the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, especially to deepen the collaboration within the framework of the strategic partnership in agriculture.
At the welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese leader (Photo: VNA) Chinh invited his Belgian counterpart to visitVietnam in 2023 when the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties.
In terms of trade and investment, the two sidespledged to encourage their agencies and businesses to continue fully andeffectively implementing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
Chinh urged Belgium to soon ratify the EU-VietnamInvestment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), encourage Belgian firms to invest in Vietnamin such areas as digital transformation, renewable energy, logistics, seaportand strategic infrastructure, and support the European Commission (EC) toremove its “yellow card” on Vietnamese fisheries.
Host and guest highlighted the positive outcomesafter five years implementing the strategic partnership in agriculture.
Chinh suggested Belgium assist Vietnam in circularagriculture-based economy and smart agriculture, along with the prevention andcontrol of saltwater intrusion and drought in the Mekong Delta.
He also called for Belgium’s support in the realisationof the national strategy on green growth for 2021-2030, towards sustainable,environmentally-friendly development.
The two countries will promote the trilateralcooperation mechanism with African countries, with Belgium’s financial andlogistics assistance, to cope with issues regarding food security in the world.
The Belgian side suggested establishing a workinggroup to soon launch specific cooperation projects in agriculture.
The two sides consented to expand cooperation in defence-security, education-training, and culture, with the organisation of culturaldays in each country to boost people-to-people exchange, while bolstering coordinationin handling global challenges.
In climate change response, the Belgian PM expressedhis willingness to help Vietnam with finance and technology to fulfill itsinternational climate commitments, especially renewable energy technology andsupport industries.
The PMs also exchanged views on regional andinternational issues of shared concern, and pledged to continue their closecoordination and mutual support at multilateral forums and international organisationsas both countries are members of the United Nations Human Rights Council for2023-2025, thus contributing to ensuring peace, security, cooperation and developmentin the region and the world at large.
On the East Sea issue, the two sides reiterated theimportance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom ofnavigation and aviation in the East Sea, and voiced their support for therespect of law, neither using nor threatening to use force, and settlingdisputes through peaceful measures in line with international law, particularlythe 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Following their talks, the PMs witnessed the signingof several cooperation agreements between ministries, agencies, localities and businessesof the two countries in the fields of agriculture, green marine economy andfood safety, among others./.
In terms of trade and investment, the two sidespledged to encourage their agencies and businesses to continue fully andeffectively implementing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
Chinh urged Belgium to soon ratify the EU-VietnamInvestment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), encourage Belgian firms to invest in Vietnamin such areas as digital transformation, renewable energy, logistics, seaportand strategic infrastructure, and support the European Commission (EC) toremove its “yellow card” on Vietnamese fisheries.
Host and guest highlighted the positive outcomesafter five years implementing the strategic partnership in agriculture.
Chinh suggested Belgium assist Vietnam in circularagriculture-based economy and smart agriculture, along with the prevention andcontrol of saltwater intrusion and drought in the Mekong Delta.
He also called for Belgium’s support in the realisationof the national strategy on green growth for 2021-2030, towards sustainable,environmentally-friendly development.
The two countries will promote the trilateralcooperation mechanism with African countries, with Belgium’s financial andlogistics assistance, to cope with issues regarding food security in the world.
The Belgian side suggested establishing a workinggroup to soon launch specific cooperation projects in agriculture.
The two sides consented to expand cooperation in defence-security, education-training, and culture, with the organisation of culturaldays in each country to boost people-to-people exchange, while bolstering coordinationin handling global challenges.
In climate change response, the Belgian PM expressedhis willingness to help Vietnam with finance and technology to fulfill itsinternational climate commitments, especially renewable energy technology andsupport industries.
The PMs also exchanged views on regional andinternational issues of shared concern, and pledged to continue their closecoordination and mutual support at multilateral forums and international organisationsas both countries are members of the United Nations Human Rights Council for2023-2025, thus contributing to ensuring peace, security, cooperation and developmentin the region and the world at large.
On the East Sea issue, the two sides reiterated theimportance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom ofnavigation and aviation in the East Sea, and voiced their support for therespect of law, neither using nor threatening to use force, and settlingdisputes through peaceful measures in line with international law, particularlythe 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Following their talks, the PMs witnessed the signingof several cooperation agreements between ministries, agencies, localities and businessesof the two countries in the fields of agriculture, green marine economy andfood safety, among others./.
VNA
