Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai on April 15 called on Belgian companies to invest in Vietnam , especially in transport, power, mechanical engineering and metallurgy.

On receiving the President of the Belgian House of Representatives, Patrick Dewael, in Hanoi , Deputy PM Hai said that both countries should hold forums on these fields and invite all concerned ministries, agencies and businesses to seek out specific and practical measures to step up bilateral cooperation.

“Vietnam will continue to improve the business environment to create the best possible conditions for investors,” he stressed.

Despite strong development in the Vietnam-Belgium relationship, bilateral economic, trade and investment ties have failed to catch up with the full potential of both nations, the deputy PM noted.

Hai went on to say that Vietnam always attaches great importance to strengthening and developing cooperative links with Belgium and the European Union (EU) as a whole.

Having praised the significance of the Belgian legislator’s visit, Deputy PM Hai thanked the government and people of Belgium for the official development assistance they have extended to Vietnam as well as their support for the nation in the EU’s anti-dumping lawsuit on Vietnamese leather shoes.

Dewael agreed with the deputy PM’s proposals to step up Vietnam-Belgium relations and added that many Belgian investors are willing to cooperate with Vietnam in areas where Vietnam has needs, especially in infrastructure development.

Belgium, which will holds the rotating EU presidency in the second half of 2010 and will host the Asia-Europe Meeting later this year, wants to enhance its ties with Vietnam - the ASEAN Chair, and foster EU-ASEAN relations, said the legislator./.