Promoting Vietnam - Belgium cooperation opportunities

On the evening of February 21 in Brussels, the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium successfully organized the program "Meet Vietnam" in the warm atmosphere of the Lunar New Year 2024.

Photo caption — Vietnamese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium Nguyen Van Thao speaks.

The event attracted about 130 guests, including representatives of the Belgian Federal Government, the National Assembly, universities, businesses and social organizations with the aim of connecting, discussing and proposing measures to further promote cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium in the coming time. In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao expressed his hope that the relationship between Vietnam and Belgium in 2024 will continue to reap many brilliant achievements. The Ambassador emphasized the results that the two countries have achieved in recent times. The Ambassador highlighted the diversity and potential for cooperation between the two countries in 6 important areas: seaports - logistics, modern agriculture, green energy, healthcare - pharmaceuticals, human resource training and people-to-people exchange. The Ambassador said that cooperation is not only an opportunity but also a challenge, but if implemented effectively, cooperation will create great developments for both sides. With its strategic geographical location and the development of the seaport and logistics industry, Vietnam and Belgium can cooperate in optimizing the logistics system, enhancing the capacity of cargo transportation and increasing international trade. Vietnam has great potential both geographically and economically to develop seaports and logistics, and can become a regional connection center. Geographically, Vietnam is located at the gateway to Southeast Asia, one of the most dynamically developing regions and the center of the Indian Ocean - Pacific region. Vietnam has a coastline of more than 3,200 km with many deep-water ports, located on the most important shipping route connecting Asia - Europe, and connecting with the East-West corridor deep into the interior of the entire region. As one of the most open and dynamically developing economies in the region, Vietnam has a very high demand for the development of modern seaports and logistics. The Vietnamese Government has approved the Master Plan for the Development of Vietnam's Seaport System for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, with the goal of turning Vietnam into a regional and global seaport logistics center, opening up great opportunities for international partners to cooperate. This is also an area in which Belgium has outstanding strengths, Belgium is one of the most important logistics centers in the region with the leading port of Antwerp - Bruges in Europe. Therefore, Vietnam is eager to strengthen cooperation with Belgian partners and investors in this field.

Belgium's outstanding achievements in developing modern agriculture, applying biotechnology, transforming green and sustainable agriculture, along with reducing emissions and protecting the environment and biodiversity, are the basis for cooperation in sharing technology, techniques and knowledge, to increase agricultural production and improve the quality and added value of products. In particular, Vietnam and Belgium have established a Strategic Partnership in the agricultural sector since 2018. Therefore, Vietnam wishes to further expand cooperation with Belgium to develop green agriculture and smart agriculture, not only to meet the needs of the two countries, but also to contribute to ensuring a sustainable supply chain, solving the problem of global food insecurity, and connecting with major markets such as the US, China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)... With a commitment to sustainable development and the use of renewable energy sources, Vietnam and Belgium can cooperate in developing solar, wind and hydropower projects, and share experiences and new technologies. This is an area that the Vietnamese Government attaches great importance to and gives high priority to, and is also an area where Vietnam has great demand in the process of sustainable economic development. With its favorable location and geographical features, Vietnam has outstanding potential and strengths to produce green energy not only to meet domestic demand but also to expand exports to countries in the region. The recent COVID-19 pandemic is a lesson showing the need to strengthen cooperation in the health sector. This is a field in which Belgium has strengths, with many large pharmaceutical, medical and chemical companies headquartered in Belgium. In 2022, two-way trade turnover increased by nearly 60%, partly thanks to the export of vaccines and medical products from Belgium to Vietnam. This shows great potential for cooperation, not only between the two countries, but through Vietnam's geo-economic position as a regional gateway and market size, it can be expanded into cooperation between Belgium and the whole of ASEAN, especially in the context of increasing risks and challenges related to epidemics while the demand for high-quality medical products and services is increasing in Vietnam and the region. Vietnam and Belgium can cooperate in training and developing human resources, especially in high-demand fields such as engineering, information technology and management, as Vietnam is in the process of strong development and has a great demand for high-quality human resources. Many Vietnamese and Belgian universities have promoted cooperation and exchanged short- and long-term training programs. Therefore, this will also be a field with a lot of potential to exploit in the coming time. Strengthening people-to-people exchanges between the two countries through cultural activities, tourism and academic exchanges will create opportunities to enhance understanding and create close relationships as well as create a solid foundation for comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Andries Gryffroy, First Vice President of the Belgian Senate and President of the Belgium-Vietnam Alliance, emphasized that the relationship between Vietnam and Belgium is not only a normal two-way relationship but also a special relationship, built on the basis of respect, trust and common interests. Mr. Gryffroy mentioned the remarkable achievements in expanding and strengthening bilateral relations, especially in the fields of economics, trade and investment. The high-level visits of delegations from both countries in the past year are clear evidence of the constantly developing Belgium-Vietnam cooperation relationship. According to Mr. Gryffroy, Vietnam and Belgium have many similarities and potential for common development and cooperation in areas such as seaports, agriculture, green energy, healthcare, human resource training and people-to-people exchange will create many new opportunities for both countries.

Mr. Gryffroy also emphasized the importance of promoting cooperation between organizations and businesses of the two countries, and encouraged the exchange of information, experience and technology to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation. Mr. Andries Gryffroy affirmed to continue supporting and promoting the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Belgium, aiming to build a bright future and sustainable development for both countries.

For his part, Mr. Delhaye François, Director of the Department of Southeast Asia and Oceania under the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also made important comments on the cooperative relationship with Vietnam. Belgium considers Vietnam a priority and privileged partner in ASEAN. He emphasized that at the recent meeting at the World Economic Forum 2024 in Davos (Switzerland), Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh both expressed their desire to further strengthen bilateral relations. He said that Vietnam's desire to open a Defense Attaché Office in Brussels will bring opportunities for cooperation in the defense sector. Speaking to a VNA reporter, Mr. François expressed his impression of the growth of the Vietnamese economy. He said: "In recent years, the Vietnamese economy has been very dynamic and Belgian companies have shown great interest in Vietnam. Many Belgian companies are shifting to Vietnam." Mr. Lucas Vanhaelewyn, CEO of Deroose Plants - a global company specializing in plant breeding research - shared his optimism about the opportunity to cooperate with Vietnam. He visited Da Lat and was very impressed by the economic development in this city with favorable climate conditions for growing flowers. Mr. Lucas Vanhaelewyn hopes that the company will deploy business activities in Da Lat similar to those in the US, Europe and China.

"Meet Vietnam" is also an opportunity to introduce and promote the image and agricultural products of Vietnam in the Belgian market. This event is not only an opportunity to expand cooperation, investment and business but also an important step in promoting exchanges between Vietnam and Belgium, towards a future of development and common prosperity.