HCMC – Vietnam always attaches great importance to and seeks to enhance multifaceted cooperation with Belgium, said Vietnamese President Luong Cuong during his meeting with King Philippe of Belgium.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium are paying a five-day state visit to Vietnam. On the morning of April 1, following a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace, President Luong Cuong met with King Philippe.
President Cuong affirmed that the Vietnam visit by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde would open a new chapter in friendly relations between the two nations.
King Philippe congratulated Vietnam on its impressive socio-economic progress in recent years and emphasized the country’s important role and position in the Asia-Pacific region. He expressed his desire to bolster cooperation with Vietnam in areas where both nations have complementary strengths and untapped potential.
Regarding economic and trade cooperation, a key pillar in Vietnam–Belgium relations, the two leaders agreed to continue effectively implementing the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
President Luong Cuong called on Belgium to soon ratify the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to promote fair and mutually beneficial investment relations between businesses of both countries.
He also encouraged Belgian enterprises to increase investment in Vietnam, particularly in areas where Belgium has strengths such as high technology, renewable energy, digital transformation, and strategic infrastructure. Additionally, he urged Belgium to advocate for the European Commission (EC) to lift the “yellow card” on Vietnam’s seafood exports related to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
King Philippe of Belgium expressed his hope that Belgian companies in sectors such as wastewater treatment, energy, and rare mineral mining would have the opportunity to participate in investment and business activities in Vietnam.
The two leaders emphasized the importance of implementing the strategic partnership framework on agriculture through the development of circular and smart agricultural models, and by strengthening technology transfer between research and training institutions in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.
After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the handover of cooperation documents, including: the Cooperation Programme for the period of 2025-2027 between the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Brussels Capital Region; memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Institute of Hydrometeorology and Climate Change under the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Flemish Institute for Technological Research; memorandum of understanding between the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, and the Flanders Investment and Trade and the Wallonia Export & Investment Agency and the Brussels Business Support Agency; an in-principle agreement between the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin and the Aquitara Impact Fund 1 of the Kingdom of Belgium.
