Promoting cooperation between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Belgian Parliament

Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly 's Foreign Affairs Committee Don Tuan Phong answered the press's questions about the visit of President of the Belgian Senate Stéphanie D'Hose.

President of the Belgian Senate Stéphanie D'Hose. (Source: VNA)

At the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, President of the Belgian Senate Stéphanie D'Hose paid an official visit to Vietnam from August 21-25.

On this occasion, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee Don Tuan Phong gave an interview to the press about the content of the visit and the relationship between Vietnam and Belgium in particular and the European Union (EU) in general.

Could you please briefly introduce the context of the official visit to Vietnam by the President of the Belgian Senate?

The President of the Belgian Senate is the highest-ranking Belgian politician to visit Vietnam in 2023. This is also the occasion for the two countries to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (March 22, 1973 - March 22, 2023).

The visit aims to promote economic, trade and investment cooperation as well as cooperation between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Belgian Parliament; and enhance coordination between the two countries at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, regional and international inter-parliamentary organizations.

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

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; the gateway for Vietnamese goods to 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.

This is also an opportunity for the two sides to review the results of cooperation over the past 5 years and propose cooperation measures in the coming time, especially in the field of agriculture. Vietnam and Belgium have established a strategic partnership in the field of agriculture.

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.

In addition to strengthening parliamentary cooperation, the leaders of the Belgian Senate and the Vietnamese National Assembly will discuss measures to promote bilateral relations. Therefore, during the visit, in addition to the talks with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the President of the Belgian Senate is expected to pay a courtesy call to President Vo Van Thuong, meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, work with Foreign Minister 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.

I would also like to emphasize that in recent years, Belgium has been a very important 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 demand and Belgium has strengths. This is a very meaningful resource in the process of socio-economic development of Vietnam.

Could you share about the cooperation contents that contribute to further strengthen bilateral relations, as well as between Vietnam and the European Union, and coordination in the international arena, at multilateral forums?

This visit follows the visit of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to Belgium in 2021 in a very special context.

With an important position in the EU and in the world, we wish to strengthen relations with Belgium. At international forums, Belgium and Vietnam have coordinated quite closely, especially in the recent term when both countries were non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Currently, both countries are members of the United Nations Human Rights Council. One of the important contents is coordination at multilateral forums, including those of the United Nations.

We 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.

Currently, there are still some contents that Vietnam wants to urge the Belgian Parliament to quickly ratify so that the Investment Protection Agreement between Vietnam and the EU (EVIPA) can soon come into effect, ensuring the benefits 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.

Thank you very much.

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