Belgium’s King Philippe (Source: Getty images) Brussels (VNA) – The relationship between Belgium and Vietnam is developing fruitfully, Belgium’s King Philippe told Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Vu Anh Quang who came to present his credentials.
The King recalled his visits to Vietnam in 1994, 2003 and 2012, and his meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong in Brussels in 2013.
Lauding Vietnam’s high economic growth rate, King Philippe said Vietnam and Belgium could benefit from economic cooperation.
He suggested Vietnam pay attention to Belgian pharmaceutical products which are highly valued in Europe.
Apart from agricultural cooperation, the two countries should join hands in climate change response, noting that Vietnam is one of the countries hardest hit by climate change while Belgium has strength in this field.
For his part, Ambassador Quang said Vietnam and Belgium have substantial potential for cooperation in both the federal and local levels, particularly in agriculture, clean energy and seaport.
The diplomat pledged to do his utmost to contribute to the bilateral ties, helping elevate the relationship to a strategic partnership in a number of economic sectors, for the sake of the two countries’ people.
Vietnam and Belgium set up diplomatic ties in 1973. The two countries have held high-level meetings and visits regularly, while supporting each other at international forums.
Economic and trade cooperation has played a key role in bilateral ties. In 2017, two-way trade reached nearly 2.5 billion USD. Belgium is currently running more than 60 projects worth about 600 million USD in Vietnam.-VNA
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