Vietnam and Belgium have agreed to encourage and create favourable conditions for their businesses to cooperate in prioritised areas such as seaports and logistics services, transport, and technology.

The agreement was reached during talks between visiting Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai and Belgium Deputy Prime Minister Van de Lanotte, who is also Minister of Economy, Consumer Affairs and North Sea, in Brussels on September 26.

The two Deputy PMs noted with pleasure the fruitful development of the traditional relationship and cooperation between the two countries in all areas over the past time, both national and local levels.

They cited the visit to Belgium by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong in January this year as a manifestation for the fine bond.

The leaders took occasion to make in-depth discussions and reached consensus on measures to step up bilateral cooperation, including increasing the exchange of all-level delegations and enhancing coordination in organising activities to mark the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-Belgium diplomatic ties.

The two sides will strengthen linkages between their localities while boosting cooperation at multilateral forums and international organisations.

They agreed that the second session of the Vietnam-Belgium Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation will be held in October this year and continue coordination in effectively implementing projects within the framework of the 2011-2015 Development Orientation Programme.

The Belgian Government attaches importance to and wishes to deepen the multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam , Deputy PM Van de Lanotte affirmed, noting Belgium stands ready to serve as a gateway for the Southeast Asian country to strengthen its cooperation with European countries.

Following the talks, the two sides signed two memoranda of understanding on building policies to renovate and develop business training establishments, and the implementation of a project to improve the quality of medical waste treatment in Hanoi.

While staying in Belgium from September 25-27, Deputy PM Hai had working sessions with Vice President of the European Commission (EC) responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship Antonio Tajani and EC Trade Commissioner Karen De Gucht.

During the meetings, the EC representatives affirmed that the EU attaches importance to cooperation with Vietnam and will actively work with the country for the signing of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement by the end of 2014.

The EC is internationalising business activities and wants to increase EU businesses’ presence in Vietnam , focusing on such areas as construction, infrastructure, high-tech, automation, food processing and space.

Also on September 26, the Vietnamese Deputy PM met with representatives from several EU businesses and visited Zeebrugge seaport, one of the most important deep-water seaports in Belgium.-VNA