Freshly signed MoU promotes Vietnam-Belgium cooperation
Freshly signed MoU promotes Vietnam-Belgium cooperation: Belgian official
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Vietnamese Government and the administration of Belgium’s Flemish region on October 17 as part of PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to the European country, confirming the increasingly extensive cooperation between the two sides.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Minister-President of the Government of Flanders Geert Bourgeois (Photo: VNA)
Brussels (VNA) – A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signedbetween the Vietnamese Government and the administration of Belgium’s Flemishregion on October 17 as part of PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to the Europeancountry, confirming the increasingly extensive cooperation between the twosides.
In an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency’s correspondent in Brussels,Minister-President of the Government of Flanders Geert Bourgeois said that theMoU signing came after the first deal inked in 2013, underlining the long-termpartnership between Vietnam and Belgium in general and the Flemish Region inparticular.
Praising Vietnam’s economic development in the past 30 years, with animpressive GDP growth of 6-7 percent per year, he said that Vietnam shouldcontinue updating its international frameworks to attract more foreigninvestors, which will help Vietnamese firms better integrate into the global valuechain.
The Belgian Government will continue to support the early ratification of theEU-Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) which promotes free and fair tradetowards sustainable growth among its members, he stressed, expressing hisbelief that the EVFTA and the freshly-inked MoU are expected to help theFlemish region to double its exports to Vietnam to 1 billion EUR (about 1.16billion USD) over the next three years.
Vietnam is currently the fourth largest export market of Flanders in Southeast Asia.Around 70-80 percent of Belgian shipments to Vietnam come from the region. Lastyear, Flanders shipped 492 million EUR (nearly 570 million USD) worth ofproducts to Vietnam, up 22.23 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, Vietnam’sexports to the region surged some 20.86 percent and the figure is expected to riseeven further in the future.
In recent times, Vietnamese localities and the Flemish region have enjoyed fruitfulcooperation, especially relating to transportation and the environment.Flanders invested 4.4 million EUR (around 5.1 million USD) in joint researchprogrammes of the Research Founderation: Flanders (FWO), and Vietnam’s NationalFoundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED), he added. –VNA
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s tour to Belgium and the European Union (EU) marks important milestones for Vietnam-Belgium relations and the Vietnam-EU Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation, a diplomat has said.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived in Brussels, Belgium, in the afternoon of October 16 (local time), where he will attend the 12th ASEM Summit, pay a working visit to the European Union and make an official visit to Belgium.
The Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Belgium announced at a joint press conference in Brussels on October 16 that they had agreed to promote cooperation between the two countries in multiple fields.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Belgian counterpart, Charles Michel, highlighted the strides in the two countries’ relations in numerous spheres during their talks in Brussels on the afternoon of October 16 (local time).
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke highly of growing ties between Vietnam and the Flanders region of Belgium during a reception in Brussels on October 17 for the regional Minister-President Geert Bourgeois.
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The Vietnamese Embassy advises the Vietnamese community living, studying, and working in Israel to strictly comply with directions from the Home Front Command and local authorities.
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The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOVA) has served as a bridge connecting and uniting the community with the homeland, becoming a trusted source of support for Vietnamese expats in times of hardship.
The programme to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses has achieved notable results, with nearly 263,000 housing units addressed to date, including 225,000 houses inaugurated and 38,000 under construction. Thirty-eight provinces and cities across the nation have already fulfilled their targets.
Stronger efforts and determination are required to achieve and surpass the set targets, especially in the eradication of makeshift and dilapidated houses nationwide, the acceleration of public investment disbursement, and the implementation of nationally important transport projects, PM Pham Minh Chinh noted.
The trip will be made at the invitations of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF President and CEO Børge Brende, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Long spoke highly of the dynamic, positive, and comprehensive development of Vietnam – Russia relations in recent years. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State place great importance on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in a substantive and effective manner, in line with the development needs of both nations.
At the conference, participants reported that the Government has so far issued 28 decrees on the delegation of responsibilities and powers between the central Government and two-tier local administrations. Several localities have already piloted the new governance model.
Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
Under the official dispatch signed on June 20, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to concentrate efforts on implementing core measures to ensure the smooth operations of the new administrative framework.
The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Minister-President of the Government of Flanders Geert Bourgeois (Photo: VNA) 
