Brussels (VNA) – Belgium willsoon have projects to support Vietnam in Agent Orange/Dioxin contaminationclean-up, President of the Belgian 🦄Senate Stephanie D'Hosesaid when receiving Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in Brussel, adding that Belgium will back the European Parliament (EP) on passing a resolution and taking actions to support Vietnam in this regard.

The Senate leader hailed the significance of FM Son's working visit to Belgium fromJanuary 31 to February 1, which was the first Foreign Minister-level visitbetween the two countries in the past 12 years and in the context that the twocountries have just celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment oftheir diplomatic relations and the 5th anniversary of their Strategic Partnershipon Agriculture in 2023.    At the reception, the Belgium official agreedthe Vietnamese National Assembly and the Belgian Federal Parliament will soonsign a cooperation agreement, and welcomed the two legislatures’ cooperation atregional and global inter-parliamentary forums.  Meanwhile, President of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium Éliane Tillieux affirmed that the chamber's passing a resolution calling for support for AO victims is a strong message to the international community to support Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of AO. She added that to implement the resolution, she will call on experienced Belgian businesses to participate in detoxification projects in Vietnam. During the meetings with the Belgian legislative leaders, FM Son affirmed that Vietnam always hopes to strengthen friendship relations and cooperation with Belgium across the fields. He appreciated the attention of the Belgian parliament and the Belgium-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group to promote the multi-faceted cooperation with the Vietnamese NA. He thanked the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium for being the first legislative body in the world to pass the resolution calling for support for AO victims, thereby drawing the international community's attention and support for tackling war consequences in Vietnam. Son also urged the Belgian FederalParliament to soon ratify the EU -Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA)to maximise the potential of cooperation between the two countries in thefield of investment; and push for the European Commission (EC)'s early removal of the“yellow card” on Vietnam.      Holding talks with Belgium’s Minister ofForeign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal CulturalInstitutions Hadja Lahbib, the Vietnamese minister affirmed that Vietnam alwaystreasures relations with Belgium - an important partner in the EU, and wishesto further promote Vietnam - Belgium relations, especially the strategicpartnership on agriculture. Son appreciated Belgium's active role as the rotating President of the Council of the EU in the first six months of 2024, asking for Belgium’s coordination to promote EU-Vietnam relations, and affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to connect Belgium with ASEAN and Southeast Asian countries. He urged Belgium to early ratify the EVIPA and push for the early removal of the EC's yellow card on Vietnam's aquatic goods to further facilitate Vietnam-Belgium investment and trade ties. Lahbib affirmed that agriculture is a pillar in the two countries’ cooperation, adding that Belgium is considering building an agricultural cooperation programme between Vietnam and Belgian regions. Belgium can support Vietnam in developing circular agricultural models, smart agriculture, and responding to climate change, she said.  The minister also called on the Vietnamese Government to create favourable conditions for Belgian businesses to expand investment and business in Vietnam, especially in high-tech and energy transition industries. The two ministers agreed to continue promoting contacts and exchange of delegationsbetween the two sides, especially senior leaders on State, Government and NAchannels. Assessing economic cooperation as an importantpillar in Vietnam - Belgium relations, the two ministers welcomed businessesfrom both sides to promote cooperation in new fields such as high technology,semiconductor chips, and energy transition, hoping that the two countries willmake good use of the opportunities that the EVFTA brings. The two ministers agreed to havecooperation projects to implement the Belgian lower house's resolution on supporting Vietnam inovercoming war consequences, especially detoxifying areas affected by AOand supporting AO victims. The two sides also discussed regional andinternational issues of mutual concern, affirming to continue to coordinateclosely and support each other at multilateral organisations and forums, especiallythe United Nations and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and promote theASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership framework./.