The event, the 12th of its kind jointly, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium and Chris Geyskens, Chairwoman of the Belgium chapter of the Hoi An – Vietnam Association for Victims of AO/Dioxin.
Haemers Technologies, with over three decades of experience in soil decontamination, successfully tested its thermal cleaning technology on Vietnamese soil contaminated with dioxin, the deadly component of AO that has persisted in the environment for years.
Originating from Binh Duong province, master Duong overcame a frail physique by mastering traditional Vietnamese martial arts, and distilling their fluid techniques into Thuy Phap.
Amid the dominant languages of Belgium—French, Dutch, German and English—Vietnamese is now represented, serving as a bridge between children of Vietnamese descent and their cultural roots.
The Vietnamese leaders expressed their belief that the trip by King Philippe would create new momentum to deepen the friendship and multifaceted cooperation Vietnam and Belgium in a more result-oriented manner, responsibly contributing to peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and the world.
Belgium has been a crucial partner for the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam in general in education, research, and innovation, creating meaningful collaboration opportunities with not only the university but other leading educational institutions in Vietnam
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium visited the War Remnants Museum and met with children affected by Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin in Ho Chi Minh City on April 3, as part of their ongoing state visit to Vietnam.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium and a high-level delegation from the European country engaged in a series of activities in the northern port city of Hai Phong on April 2, as part of their ongoing state visit to Vietnam.
Belgian investors, in partnership with local stakeholders, are currently implementing three key projects in Quang Ninh, including two major industrial infrastructure developments - the Bac Tien Phong and Nam Tien Phong Industrial Parks in Quang Yen township.
VNU-Hanoi and its affiliated units signed six cooperation agreements with Belgian organisations focused on education, research, and academic exchange.
Since EVFTA took effect in August 2020, Vietnam’s exports to the EU have surged, with bilateral trade reaching 68.4 billion USD in 2024, a 47.5% increase from 2020.
Queen Mathilde of Belgium on April 1 visited the Vietnam National Children's Hospital in Hanoi, which reflected the strong public healthcare cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the field of child mental health.
In the past over five decades, Vietnam and Belgium have emerged as key partners across multiple fields, including politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, education, health care, environmental protection, and sustainable development. Both nations have also worked closely together at multilateral forums, particularly as members of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 tenure.
Vietnamese and Belgian organisations have established an exemplary model of cooperation, where both sides contribute and benefit equally.
Belgian King Philippe's visit, accompanied by senior officials, business leaders, representatives of universities and research institutes, would create new momentum to deepen and enhance the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium in a practical and effective way, meeting the benefits of their people and contributing responsibly to peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed optimism that the King's visit will provide fresh impetus for strengthening bilateral relations, deepening political trust, and fostering comprehensive cooperation.
To further strengthen Vietnam-Belgium relations, especially parliamentary cooperation, both sides agreed to enhance delegation exchanges at all levels, particularly between parliamentary committees and friendship groups. They also pledged to share legislative and supervisory experience, coordinate positions in international organisations, support each other’s candidacies for UN bodies, and effectively implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
The Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site represents one of Vietnam's most significant historical and cultural landmarks as it is the place where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked during the final 15 years of his life.
The Belgian King and Queen expressed their impression of the profound cultural and historical value of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, underscoring the significance of preserving and promoting each nation’s cultural heritage.
The first state visit in over 50 years between the two countries serves as an important milestone for bilateral ties to enter a new development stage with stronger political trust and more substantive and effective cooperation.
Both sides agreed to translate the outcomes of the Belgian King’s state visit into concrete actions and facilitate mutual visits at both central and local levels.
This collaboration provides an opportunity for the two sides to jointly develop breakthrough solutions in four key areas, namely urban climate research, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, water resources management, and circular economy development.
The state visit is set to mark a historic milestone in the two nations' relations, bringing the ties into a new phase of development, with higher political trust, and increasingly effective and substantive cooperation.
The visit underscores Vietnam's steadfast foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and proactive international integration. It also reaffirms Vietnam's commitment to strengthening ties with Belgium, a key partner within the European Union.
As a major player in the region and one of the most dynamic economies in Asia, Vietnam is an indispensable partner for Belgium. The meetings with the various Vietnamese authorities will therefore offer an excellent opportunity to further deepen and enrich this diverse partnership, according the Belgian Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.