Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Embassy in Belgium has held a ceremony celebrating the homeland’s 79th Nation Day, gathering guests from the host nation, the EU, and the Vietnamese expatriate community.
In his remarks, Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao underscored Vietnam’s consistent appreciation of its comprehensive partnership with the EU and each of its members. He expressed his confidence that together the sides will further achieve sound outcomes in the near future, particularly in such key areas as climate change response, clean energy development, and high technology.
Stressing the Vietnam-Belgium strategic partnership in agriculture and their 2023 bilateral trade worth 4.2 billion EUR (4.68 billion USD), the diplomat noted that tremendous potential and demand are available for the nations to expand their cooperation.
Attendees said their sympathies are with Vietnamese people who bore the brunt of Typhoon Yagi, and pledged material and spiritual assistance for the Southeast Asian country’s recovery efforts.
François Delhaye, Director for East Asia-Southeast Asia and Oceania at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, said Belgium prioritises climate response cooperation with its partners, including Vietnam. The upcoming state visit by the Belgian royal couple to Vietnam next May will serve as a valuable opportunity for the sides to fortify their partnership in not only politics, economy, and trade, but also people-to-people exchange.
Leila Fernández Stembridge, who leads the South East Asia and ASEAN Division at the European External Service Action (EEAS), noted that Vietnam currently holds the most extensive cooperation mechanisms with the EU in the region. Affirming the bloc’s wish to elevate its relationship with Vietnam, she said it remains committed to supporting the country in achieving major national goals, such as becoming a developed one by 2045 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.
On this occasion, Leila announced that the EU has disbursed 650,000 EUR in humanitarian aid to assist victims of Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam.
In the past weekend, the Switzerland-Vietnam Friendship Association organised an event in Zurich spotlighting the solidarity with Vietnam.
President Anjuska Weil shared that so far this year, the association has undertaken specific initiatives to build five new houses for disadvantaged individuals in Vietnam and to help renovate three others. Additionally, by June, approximately 4,000 microloans had been provided to disadvantaged Vietnamese families to support their businesses.
Ambassador Phung The Long expressed his gratitude for the association's kindness and assistance, particularly for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin and those living in remote and disadvantaged areas of Vietnam.
Meanwhile, on September 21 in the New Zealand capital city of Wellington, a Vietnamese cultural and community engagement festival was held in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, attracting nearly 400 Vietnamese expatriates, students, and workers in the host nation, along with many local residents.
The festival featured over 10 booths offering food, souvenirs, and handicrafts, as well as areas for learning how to make traditional mooncakes and lanterns. On this occasion, the "Viet Hub New Zealand" association, one of the organisers, ran a fundraising event to support those affected by Typhoon Yagi back home./.
