Increased coordination at multilateral forums and regional and international inter-parliamentary organizations

"During the visit of President of the Belgian Senate Stéphanie D'Hose, a number of agreements will be signed between the Belgian Senate, the Belgian House of Representatives and the Vietnamese National Assembly , contributing to establishing a framework for cooperation between the two countries in the coming time," said Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee Don Tuan Phong in an interview with the press.

Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee Don Tuan Phong. (Source: quochoi.vn)

Regarding the context of the official visit to Vietnam by President of the Belgian Senate Stéphanie D'Hose, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee Don Tuan Phong said that the President of the Belgian Senate is the highest-ranking politician of the Kingdom of Belgium to visit Vietnam in 2023. This is also an occasion for the two countries to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (March 22, 1973 - March 22, 2023).

The visit of Senate President Stéphanie D'Hose aims to promote economic , trade and investment cooperation as well as cooperation between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Belgian Parliament, while enhancing coordination between the two countries at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, regional and international inter-parliamentary organizations.

During the visit, the two sides will sign a number of cooperation agreements between the Belgian Senate and House of Representatives and the Vietnamese National Assembly, contributing to establishing a framework for cooperation between the two countries in the coming time.

Deputy Director Don Tuan Phong emphasized that Belgium is an important partner of Vietnam in the European Union as well as in the world and is also an important economic and trade partner; a gateway for Vietnamese goods to enter the European market.

In addition, Belgium is also home to the headquarters of international agencies, organizations, the EU and many international businesses. Therefore, Belgium plays a very important role in promoting relations between Vietnam and Belgium, the EU and the region in general.

Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee affirmed that the visit of Senate President Stéphanie D'Hose is also an opportunity for the two sides to review the results of cooperation over the past five years and propose cooperation measures in the coming time, especially in the field of agriculture. Vietnam and the Kingdom of Belgium have established a strategic partnership in the field of agriculture.

The Kingdom of Belgium also has many strengths and potentials that we can strengthen cooperation with, especially in Belgium's key industries, service industries, logistics, clean energy, alternative energy, education and training, and science and technology.

Mr. Don Tuan Phong said that during the upcoming visit of the President of the Belgian Senate, in addition to the two sides discussing strengthening parliamentary cooperation, the leaders of the Belgian Senate and the Vietnamese National Assembly will discuss measures to promote relations between the two countries.

Therefore, during the visit, it is expected that, in addition to the talks with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the President of the Belgian Senate will greet President Vo Van Thuong, meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, work with Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, visit and work in a number of localities, and survey the actual situation of a number of development cooperation projects between Vietnam and Belgium.

Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee Don Tuan Phong emphasized that in recent years, Belgium has been a very large development cooperation partner of Vietnam. During this cooperation process, Belgium has supported Vietnam with about 300 million USD, mainly focusing on the period from 1993 to present, especially in the areas where Vietnam has needs and Belgium has strengths. This is a very meaningful resource in the process of socio-economic development of Vietnam.

Mr. Don Tuan Phong said that this visit by the President of the Belgian Senate is a follow-up visit to the visit of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to Belgium in 2021 in a very special context.

Given Belgium's important position in the EU and the world, Vietnam wishes to strengthen relations with Belgium and vice versa. At international forums, Belgium and Vietnam coordinate quite closely, especially in the recent term when both countries were non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

Currently, the two countries are both members of the United Nations Human Rights Council. One of the important contents is coordination at multilateral forums, including those of the United Nations.

Not only do the two sides cooperate closely at international forums, they are also very interested in economic and trade cooperation. After about 3 years of implementing the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), trade between Vietnam and the EU in general has grown positively. Belgium is one of the most important gateways and is also an active member supporting the EVFTA.

However, to further promote cooperation between the two countries in all channels and fields, Vietnam hopes that the Belgian Parliament will soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) so that it can soon come into effect, ensuring the interests and access of businesses and people of the EU and Vietnam, especially investors from both sides.

In addition, Vietnam also hopes that Belgium will support the European Commission to soon remove the "yellow card" on Vietnamese seafood (IUU) taking into account Vietnam's reality and commitment to sustainable development, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee Don Tuan Phong expected.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-bi-gia-tang-phoi-hop-tai-dien-dan-da-phuong-va-to-chuc-lien-nghi-vien-khu-vuc-va-quoc-te-239063.html