Enhancing cooperation between the two legislative bodies of Vietnam and Belgium

Vietnam and the Kingdom of Belgium established diplomatic relations in 1973. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the traditional friendship and good cooperation between the two countries have continued to develop positively. The two sides have maintained delegation exchanges and high-level contacts even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, the two sides will celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 5th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership on agriculture. Vietnam and Belgium have established and conducted 4 rotating political consultations at the Deputy Foreign Minister level since 2013, many cooperation mechanisms on diplomacy, economy and with regions and communities of Belgium. The two countries also cooperate effectively at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, the Organization of the Francophonie, ASEM, ASEAN, Mekong sub-regional cooperation and are both members of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term.

cooperation between two Vietnamese legislative bodies image 1 — President of the Belgian Senate Stéphanie D'Hose.

In terms of economy, the two governments have cooperated through the Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation established in 2011. Belgium is currently Vietnam's 6th largest trading partner in the EU. Before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, bilateral trade turnover always maintained a growth rate of 6-10%/year and decreased by 10% in 2020. By 2022, two-way trade reached 4.730 billion USD, of which Vietnam's exports to Belgium reached more than 3.9 billion USD.

Regarding FDI investment, as of March 2023, Belgium has 89 valid investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 1.1 billion USD, ranking 23rd out of 139 countries and territories, and 6th out of 24 EU member states investing in Vietnam. Vietnam has 4 investment projects in Belgium with a value of 12.6 million USD in the field of processing and manufacturing industry.

Regarding development cooperation, Belgium has provided Vietnam with 300 million USD in development assistance, focusing on the fields of clean water, waste treatment, institutional strengthening, agriculture and rural development, health care, and education, contributing to Vietnam's socio-economic development. After 2018, Belgium will continue to cooperate in the direction of development through the Belgian Government's preferential credit package.

In the agricultural sector, Belgium is the 4th largest agricultural product market out of 28 EU countries of Vietnam, especially seafood and coffee.

In other fields, the two sides have a mechanism of the Joint Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation (every 3 years) and have held 6 meetings; cooperation agreements on culture and transport. Cooperation in the fields of defense - security and education and training has been strengthened. The Vietnamese community in Belgium has about 13,000 people with 12 Vietnamese associations.

cooperation between two Vietnamese legislative bodies image 2 — National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and President of the Belgian House of Representatives Eliane Tillieux.

Parliamentary relations between Vietnam and the Kingdom of Belgium have been implemented at all levels, with the Federal Parliament, the Parliaments of the Regions and the Linguistic Community, and have achieved many positive results, through high-level visits, meetings, contacts between parliamentarians and coordination at multilateral parliamentary forums (IPU, APF, ASEP). Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the visit and work in Belgium in September 2021 by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue has deepened the relationship between the two countries and the two parliaments.

The official visit to Vietnam by President of the Belgian Senate Stéphanie D'Hose is a high-level diplomatic activity of great significance, especially when Ms. Stéphanie D'Hose is the highest-ranking Belgian politician to visit Vietnam in 2023, on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations and 5 years of Strategic Partnership in the field of agriculture in response to the official visit to Belgium by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in September 2021. At the same time, it demonstrates the importance of Belgian leaders in relations with Vietnam; the desire to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of trade and investment.

The visit will enhance the cooperative relationship between the two legislative bodies through the signing of a Cooperation Agreement between the Vietnamese National Assembly and both the Senate and the House of Representatives of Belgium, making bilateral parliamentary cooperation increasingly effective and substantive.

Source