President Tran Dai Quang (R) and Rudy Demotte, Minister-President of Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – President Tran Dai Quang highly valued the French Community of Belgium (Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles) for prioritising its relations with Vietnam while receiving its Minister-President Rudy Demotte in Hanoi on September 13.
Rudy Demotte is on an official visit to Vietnam to attend activities marking the 20th founding anniversary of the Wallonie-Bruxelles delegation to Vietnam.
President Quang expressed his delight at the sound development of relations between Vietnam and the federal, regional and community governments in Belgium.
He appreciated Wallonie-Bruxelles for providing non-refundable aid for cooperation projects in Vietnam in such fields as tertiary education, vocational training, health research, and environmental protection, contributing to local poverty reduction, manpower quality improvement and socio-economic development.
He asked businesses from the region to be more active in seeking investment and business opportunities in Vietnam, especially in biotechnology, renewable energy, mechanics, and logistics. The two sides should also facilitate locality-to-locality cooperation.
For his part, Rudy Demotte said since its delegation was established in Vietnam, Wallonie-Bruxelles has carried out a number projects supporting local socio-economic development. Many projects have brought about general benefits for the public like those in health care and medical waste treatment.
The region also wants to boost cooperation with the Southeast Asian country in high technology and heritage preservation, he added.
On this occasion, President Quang and his guest discussed ways to reinforce bilateral connections within the framework of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).
The host said his country treasures ties with the OIF and its members and wants closer coordination with Wallonie-Bruxelles to implement projects within the OIF framework.
He added that he will lead a Vietnamese delegation to the 16th Francophonie Summit, slated for this November in Madagascar.
Meanwhile, Demotte spoke highly of Vietnam’s activeness in the OIF and affirmed that the country is an important partner of Wallonie-Bruxelles in Asia.
He also announced that he will lead a delegation of the French-speaking region to the upcoming summit.
Vietnam is the only Asian country to host a delegation from the French Community of Belgium (Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles).-VNA
