PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Minister-President Jan Jambon of Belgium's Flanders region at the meeting in Hanoi on September 12. (Photo: VNA) PM Chinh welcomed Jambon on a working trip from September 12-16 at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam - Belgium diplomaticties and the 5th anniversary of their strategic partnership inagriculture.
He affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to andwishes to enhance comprehensive cooperation with Belgium, as well as regionsand communities of the European country.
Jambonsaid Flanders consistently views Vietnam as a priority partner in SoutheastAsia and will further promote the friendship as well as effective and practical cooperation with the country in all the fields where it has strengths,especially transport, seaport logistics, high technology, renewable energy,smart agriculture, and digital transformation.
The PM asked the Minister-President of Flanders to continuepaying attention to the development of ties with Vietnam, particularly ineconomy, trade and investment, so as to help consolidate the Vietnam - Belgiumrelations.
He thanked the Flemish Parliament for early ratifying the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and proposed it promote the Federal Parliament of Belgium’s ratification of thisdeal.
PM Chinh also called on Belgium to urge theEuropean Commission’s removal of the “yellow card” warning over illegal, unreportedand unregulated (IUU) fishing against Vietnam’s seafood in order tosustain livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese fishermen and ensurethe interests of millions of European consumers.
The PM asked Flanders to keep opening its market for Vietnameseexports, encourage its businesses to operate in Vietnam, and continue assistingthe Southeast Asian country in training manpower for the agriculture,transport, and seaport logistics sectors.
Forhis part, Jambon affirmed his support for trade liberalisation and for Vietnam’sreinforcement of comprehensive ties with the EU.
He also pledged to promote the Belgian Federal Parliament’sratification of the EVIPA, perceiving that the early ratification will generatepractical benefits for investors of both Belgium and the EU.
Atthe meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen partnerships in sustainableagriculture and the building and dredging of navigation routes. They alsoagreed to consider new cooperation mechanisms between Flanders and Vietnameseregions to improve the quality and effectiveness of the two countries’ cooperation./.
VNA
