The roots of good Vietnam-Belgium relations: From trust to warm humanity

President Luong Cuong and his wife hosted a solemn welcoming ceremony for the King and Queen of Belgium on the morning of April 1. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

A journey of endurance

The historic State visit of His Majesty King Philippe and Queen Mathidle to Vietnam in late March and early April reminded me of the first days after I presented my credentials in September 2003.

One of the most important tasks of the embassy was to join the relevant Belgian agencies in preparing for the visit to Vietnam of King Philippe in his capacity as Crown Prince at that time. The visit was very successful in many aspects and "created a bond" for many investment and cooperation projects that continue to this day. Vietnam has always been a precious sentiment of the Belgian Royal Family.

Ambassador Phan Thuy Thanh was awarded the Order of Leopold II by the Belgian Royal Family. (Photo: NVCC)

Vietnam and Belgium established diplomatic relations in 1973. The bilateral relationship has grown and deepened, becoming a successful model of enduring North-South cooperation between two developed and developing countries.

Belgium has now become Vietnam's sixth largest trading partner in the European Union (EU), with hundreds of investment projects in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, although not many, Vietnamese enterprises have begun to reap the "sweet fruits" of investment projects right in the heart of Europe worth tens of millions of USD.

If we turn back the clock and go back to the “old days”, none of us would be able to imagine the Vietnam-Belgium relationship developing as deeply and spectacularly as it has today, in all areas of politics, investment, economics, trade, science and technology, development cooperation, culture and education.

Looking back at the long years I worked in Belgium (1993-1997 and 2003-2007), I am increasingly aware that to promote bilateral relations, both countries need political will, determination and goodwill, in which the most important factor that creates cohesion lies in the human factor.

This is proven and explained by the fact that many generations of leaders, people, diplomats, scientists, businessmen, international students, government and non-government organizations in both countries have tirelessly and diligently cultivated and built the Vietnam-Belgium relationship. Today, the two countries have a model and sustainable relationship, highly appreciated by the international community.

Thanks to these "bridges", over the past 50 years, regardless of any incidents or difficulties, as well as in any complicated context of the times, the Vietnam-Belgium relationship has remained a good political relationship.

The Vietnam-Belgium "love affair" has always stood firm and has never been "frozen", never stopped but always moved forward with cooperation that is not only increasingly deep but also increasingly of quality, in line with the development of the situation.

Because Vietnam deserves it!

The roots of this strong relationship, in my opinion, are formed and developed on the basis of common interests, mutual trust and the dual desire to cooperate for sustainable development and mutual benefit.

Both countries are committed to cooperation on the principles of mutual respect and support for economic and social development. This is demonstrated through many long-term cooperation agreements and projects that have been effective to date.

In the history of bilateral relations, Belgium is one of the leading countries in forgiving Vietnam's debt and actively supporting Vietnam in areas such as poverty reduction, education, health, rural development and science and technology.

In the history of relations between the two countries, Vietnam has been a rare Asian country to continuously receive development cooperation aid from Belgium for many years, although the Belgian government has made changes and narrowed regulations on development cooperation aid.

This is truly a gesture of trust and affection that Belgium has for Vietnam. Because Belgium always respects clear working processes, reduces administrative procedures and optimizes decisions based on objective data and analysis, focuses on international cooperation, maintains neutrality and seeks peaceful solutions in an ever-changing world.

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If Vietnam did not deserve it, it would certainly not have this honor. And thanks to that support, many programs and projects in the fields of economics, high-tech agriculture, urban infrastructure, science and technology have been implemented, helping Vietnam access advanced technologies as well as modern management experience from Belgium, contributing to promoting sustainable development.

Speaking about the roots of this good relationship, I would also like to share that besides the great efforts from Vietnam, what I am most impressed with and always appreciate is the friendship, sympathy and sharing that the Belgian Royal Family, the Federal Government, the Linguistic Communities and the governments of the Regions as well as the Associations and people of Belgium have given to Vietnam over the years, which we, the diplomats who have worked in Belgium, have always felt deeply and clearly.

As the years pass, I have ended my nearly 18-year tenure in Belgium, but I will never forget the sincere and warm welcome that the embassy and I personally received from many Belgian friends, at all different levels, in very different fields.

That warmth perhaps partly comes from the similarities in the personalities of the people of the two countries, which are sincere, open, diligent, ready to overcome all challenges and always trying to find a consensus solution in all circumstances.

Among those loyal friends, we cannot fail to mention the large team of Belgian university professors and education experts who have been in Vietnam since their “young age”, now entering their 70s and 80s – “a rare age” according to the Vietnamese concept.

They are still persistent and passionate in contributing to academic exchanges, research cooperation and development of bilateral training programs, cooperation with leading universities in Vietnam, creating opportunities for students and lecturers of both countries to study and research in an international environment, contributing to helping Vietnam train high-quality human resources.

These helps are all very selfless, innocent, very practical and especially very timely.

Brussels is home to more than 1,100 representatives of international organizations, including NATO and six EU agencies, 600 international news agencies, 400 diplomatic missions, and 1,700 representatives of European and international companies. It is also where diplomacy, lobbying, and interest-seeking activities are always bustling and busy.

However, with Vietnam, Belgium always creates the best, most solemn and most favorable conditions for welcoming and arranging the activities of many visits of Vietnamese delegations, including high-level delegations of the General Secretary, Prime Minister and National Assembly Chairman.

Ambassador Phan Thuy Thanh speaks at the opening event of Vietnam Month in Belgium in 2006. (Photo: NVCC)

like family

Personally, I will never forget the special efforts and affection of the government of East Flanders Province and Gent city when they devoted their attention, assistance and almost full funding to the “Vietnam Month in Belgium” in 2006 to promote Vietnam's trade, cultural and tourism activities.

Also in that series of activities, in the city of Liege (French-speaking region), friends and local officials all joined the embassy staff to "roll up their sleeves" to take care of the Festival like family, having lunch together and staying up late to make the Vietnamese booths the most beautiful and attractive.

And as a tradition, every spring, during the Vietnamese New Year, the Board of Directors of Saint Michel High School (the school where the Belgian Royal Family once studied), including the ancient Saint Michel Theater, right in the center of Brussels, gives the Vietnamese embassy a large campus, enough to accommodate thousands of people, to organize Tet activities.

It was also here that the late Professor Tran Van Khe and the Nha Nhac troupe had a wonderful introduction and performance of Hue Royal Court Music, whose echoes still linger as a source of pride for Vietnamese culture in Europe... The beautiful memories of beautiful Belgium continue to last through the years and are difficult to recount in just one short article.

Belgium has been a part of my life journey, and wherever I am, I always look back on those precious days with pride and deep gratitude.

The long time working in Belgium not only gave me many opportunities to interact and participate in handling foreign affairs issues, learn how to find consensus solutions in negotiations, but also gave me the opportunity to experience and immerse myself in another culture, thereby understanding and being understood, to be able to build sincere relationships between people, and have lasting friendships in life.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/coi-re-cua-moi-quan-he-tot-dep-viet-nam-bi-tu-long-tin-den-tinh-nguoi-am-ap-309558.html