General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President To Lam, his spouse and a high-level Vietnamese delegation left Brussels at noon on October 24 local time, concluding their official visit to the European Union and the Kingdom of Belgium. The visit took place at the invitations of European Council President Antonio Costa and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
The delegation was seen off at Melsbroek Military Airport by representatives of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Belgian Ambassador to Viet Nam, the Honorary Consul of Viet Nam in Antwerp, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Head of the Vietnamese Mission to the EU Nguyen Huong Tra, embassy officials and staff, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Belgium.
During the visit to the EU, To Lam held talks with European Council President Costa and met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Both sides welcomed the positive momentum in Viet Nam-EU relations, particularly since the two sides upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including by promoting investment under the Global Gateway initiative and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). They stressed the importance of fully implementing EVFTA and securing the early ratification of EVIPA.
They also agreed to develop cooperation in critical raw materials and strengthen collaboration in technology and innovation, education and training, the green transition, strategic infrastructure, the circular economy and the blue economy.
During the visit to Belgium, To Lam met with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, held talks with Prime Minister Bart De Wever, and met with Senate President Vincent Blondel and Belgian Federal Chamber of Representatives President Peter De Roover. He also delivered a policy address at the Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations and received the Minister-Presidents of Flanders and Wallonia.
On the night of October 22, the Belgian Federal Chamber of Representatives formally voted to ratify EVIPA. The vote showed the potential and commitment for economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.
At their meetings, both sides agreed to further strengthen political trust, maintain exchanges and deepen mutual understanding of each other's concerns and needs in order to expand cooperation and work towards elevating bilateral relations.
In economic, trade and investment cooperation, the two sides agreed to pursue new breakthroughs and promote large scale, strategic projects in seaport development, smart logistics chains, green energy, eco industrial parks and high tech agriculture adapted to climate change.
The two sides agreed to step up joint research projects and technology transfer and expand collaboration in strategic and emerging technologies, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and semiconductor chips.
They also agreed to expand educational links, promote cultural, sports and tourism exchanges, and advance practical cooperation between localities in Viet Nam and Belgium. VNA/VNS.
Sources: Viet Nam News
