Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam, paid an official visit to Belgium on October 23–24 at the invitation of Prime Minister Bart De Wever. The two foreign ministries said the sides had agreed on a joint statement on the outcome.
Joint statement on the official visit
During the visit, Tô Lâm met King Philippe and Prime Minister Bart De Wever, and met Senate President Vincent Blondel and Speaker of the House of Representatives Peter de Roover. Members of the high-level delegation held talks with Belgian counterparts.
The two sides welcomed the development of Vietnam–Belgium relations over more than 50 years since diplomatic relations were established in 1973, and nearly 10 years of implementing the Strategic Partnership Framework on Agriculture established in 2018.
Strengthening cooperation at global level
The sides reaffirmed friendship and cooperation based on mutual respect, equality, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity under the UN Charter and international law. They agreed to expand contacts and delegation exchanges at all levels, particularly senior level, and maintain regular political consultations.
Vietnam thanked Belgium’s Federal House of Representatives for being the first legislature in the world to adopt a resolution supporting Agent Orange victims. The sides proposed exploring humanitarian and community support cooperation.
They reaffirmed the importance of peace, stability, security, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded commerce and peaceful dispute settlement under international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They welcomed efforts toward an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea consistent with international law and UNCLOS.
In defence, both sides reaffirmed constructive dialogue and practical cooperation under the 2003 memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation. They expressed willingness to explore cooperation in training, military medicine and defence industry, and welcomed exchanges on regional and international security.
Belgium commended Vietnam’s support for dialogue, diplomacy and the peaceful settlement of disputes. The sides expressed concern over the humanitarian consequences of the conflict in Ukraine, including civilian casualties. Vietnam and Belgium also expressed alarm about Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank, reaffirmed support for a two-state solution and called for unimpeded humanitarian assistance.
They will expand legal and judicial cooperation, exchange experience in developing the rule of law and support legal and judicial reform.
Expanding economic, trade and investment projects
The sides recognised potential for cooperation in services, finance, research and development, agroecological transition, environmental protection, higher education, innovation, eco-friendly industries, multimodal logistics, shipbuilding, high technology, port management, renewable energy, critical raw materials, semiconductors, biotechnology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and transport.
They agreed to implement the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement effectively. Vietnam welcomed Belgium’s progress in ratifying the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement. The sides stressed the importance of international labour standards of the ILO.
Vietnam welcomed long-term Belgian investment in semiconductors, eco-industrial parks, seaports, logistics, shipbuilding, high-tech agriculture, clean energy, healthcare and pharmaceuticals. The sides encouraged authorities and businesses to accelerate cooperation, improve legal frameworks and promote trade, investment and tourism.
Deepening strategic cooperation
The sides agreed to strengthen coordination against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, promote sustainable fisheries management and implement relevant EU regulations. They also committed to cooperation in science, technology, research and innovation and to expanding technical exchanges.
They encouraged joint research and development of strategic technologies, including safe, trustworthy and responsible artificial intelligence, semiconductor technology, microelectronics and cloud computing.
The foreign ministries will support implementation of the priorities identified during the visit and promote further cooperation. Both sides expressed confidence that the visit would contribute to a new phase of deeper, more substantive, effective and strategic cooperation for the benefit of both peoples, peace, cooperation and development.
Sources: Viet Nam News
