President of the Belgian Senate successfully concludes official visit to Vietnam

On the morning of August 29, President of the Belgian Senate Stéphanie D'Hose left Ho Chi Minh City, successfully concluding her official visit to Vietnam from August 21, at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

During her official visit to Vietnam, President of the Belgian Senate Stéphanie D'Hose greeted President Vo Van Thuong; met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; attended the official welcoming ceremony and held talks with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue; and worked with Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.

The President of the Belgian Senate visited and worked in Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue, Ho Chi Minh City; surveyed the actual situation of a number of development cooperation projects between Vietnam and Belgium.

The President of the Belgian Senate is the highest-ranking Belgian politician to visit Vietnam in 2023, on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the Strategic Partnership in the field of agriculture. This is an opportunity for the two sides to review and agree on orientations and solutions to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, including the parliamentary agencies.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and President of the Belgian Senate Stéphanie D'Hose. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

During the official visit to Vietnam by President of the Belgian Senate Stéphanie D'Hose, the leaders of the two sides agreed to further promote cooperation programs and projects in the fields of education, investment, trade, climate change response, digital transformation, green economy, etc.; further promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, thereby enhancing mutual understanding and connection. Vietnam thanks the Kingdom of Belgium for supporting the Vietnamese people during the past struggle for national independence as well as in the country's construction and development today.

The two sides will make the most of the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), striving to bring the trade turnover to 7 billion USD in the next 2-3 years. The EVFTA is being implemented as one of the achievements in economic cooperation between Vietnam and the EU in general and Belgium in particular. Both sides highly appreciated the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries in the field of agriculture.

The leaders of the two countries' legislatures highly appreciated the importance of the Vietnam - European Union Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue asked the Belgian Parliament to soon accelerate the ratification process of EVIPA.

The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of high-level delegations and committees, friendship parliamentary groups of the two countries, groups of female parliamentarians, young parliamentarians, etc.; promote consultation and mutual support mechanisms at multilateral parliamentary forums (IPU, ASEP, APF); coordinate to promote the implementation of sustainable development goals; coordinate to monitor and promote the effective implementation of agreements signed by the two governments; support and promote cooperation between localities and the business community.

According to VNA/Tin Tuc Newspaper

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