Hanoi (VNA) – Chairman of the NationalAssembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with visiting President of the BelgianSenate Stephanie D’Hose in Hanoi on August 21.

Welcoming D’Hose on her official visit to Vietnamfrom August 21-25, Hue said the Senate President is the highest-rankingofficial of Belgium to visit the Southeast Asian country in 2023 as the twocountries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties andthe 5th anniversary of their strategic partnership in agriculture.

Both leaders highly valued their countries’cooperation and friendship, noting that the two sides are holding numerousactivities to celebrate 50 years of their diplomatic relations.

They considered the EU - Vietnam Free TradeAgreement (EVFTA), which is being enforced, is an achievement of economiccooperation between Vietnam and the EU, including Belgium.

Hue called on Belgium to create optimal conditionsfor Vietnamese goods, especially rice and coffee, to access the Belgium and EUmarkets.

D’Hose suggested Vietnam provide favourablevisa-related conditions for citizens of Belgium and other EU member nations. Inresponse, Hue said that at its recent 5th session, the Vietnamese NA approved alaw on important amendments to the visa policy for foreigners.

Regarding development cooperation, the host leaderthanked Belgium for its assistance to Vietnam and asked the two sides to keepcollaboration in such focal areas as clean agriculture, renewable energy,digital economy, and green economy via the Belgian Government’s preferentialcredit package Finexpo, in line with both sides’ conditions and interests.

He suggested Belgium provide support in terms ofresources, finance, institutional building, and manpower training for Vietnam; andhelp the Southeast Asian country promote sustainable development, circulareconomy, environmental protection and climate change response, especiallyduring the realisation of the commitments made at the 26th UN Climate ChangeConference (COP26) and within the framework of the Just Energy TransitionPartnership (JETP).

At the talks, both sides highly appreciated theimportance of the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). Huecalled on the Belgian Federal Parliament to speed up the process of ratifyingthe EVIPA. D'Hose said that the Belgian Federal Parliament is pushing for theratification process of the agreement, which is expected to be completed at thebeginning of 2024.

Hue also proposed the Belgian Federal Parliamentpush the European Commission to soon remove its illegal, unreported, andunregulated fishing (IUU) yellow card warning against Vietnamese seafood.

He affirmed that Vietnamese authorities areactively implementing solutions to sustainably exploit aquatic resources forthe country’s benefit.

Both sides highly appreciated the two countries'establishment of a strategic partnership in the agricultural sector and wishedto deepen the relationship with the establishment of a food supply chain. The NAChairman suggested the two countries cooperate to improve their capacity toensure hygiene, animal and plant quarantine, and the quality of goods followingEU technical standards.

Vietnam welcomes Belgian businesses to invest in theSoutheast Asian country in the fields of green and sustainable development,maintaining existing supply chains, and developing new supply chains in whichthe two sides have strengths, he said.

D'Hose said that the Belgian side will coordinatewith the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam to organise aseminar to promote agricultural cooperation within the framework of the twocountries’ strategic cooperation in agriculture in October this year.

Regarding parliamentary cooperation, the twoleaders assessed that the cooperation relationship between the Vietnamese NAand the Belgian Federal Parliament in general, and the Senate in particular,has developed well, been implemented at all levels, and achieved positiveresults.

Hue hoped the Belgian Federal Parliament to shareexperience with the Vietnamese legislative body on building legal institutionsrelated to digital transformation and just energy transition.

The two sides agreed to increase the exchanges of high-leveldelegations and delegations of committees, the two countries' friendshipparliamentary groups, female parliamentarians, and young parliamentarians. Theyagreed to promote the mechanism of consultation and mutual support atmultilateral parliamentary forums; coordinate in promoting the implementationof sustainable development goals and the agreements that the two Governmentssigned. They will also further support and promote cooperation betweenlocalities and the business communities of the two countries.

D'Hose told the host that a resolution is expectedto be approved by the Belgian Chamber of Representatives on support for victimsof Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam. The resolution will call on the BelgianGovernment to promote efforts to provide more aid to Vietnamese AO victims, andto support the Vietnamese Government in helping them.

This resolution is being consulted, and expectedto be ratified in October 2023, she said, adding that the Belgium-VietnamFriendship Parliamentarians’ Group is very interested in this document.

Belgium is willing to cooperate and shareexperience and knowledge in researching and producing dioxin detoxificationtechnology, she affirmed.

Appreciating Belgium’s move, Hue said that Vietnamwould like to thank the support of the international community, includingBelgium, to help Vietnam detoxify dioxin and support victims.

At the talks, the two leaders exchanged views oncooperation in education and training; and agreed to continue creatingfavourable conditions for the Vietnamese community living in Belgium, andmaintain effective coordination at multilateral and international forums suchas the United Nations, the International Organisation of La Francophonie, the Asia-EuropeMeeting (ASEM), and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Sharing outstanding results in socio-economicdevelopment, especially in sustainable poverty reduction, new-style rural areabuilding, and human rights, the Vietnamese top legislator welcomed Belgium andEU countries to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Vietnam in thesefields for mutual benefits, and support each other when Vietnam and Belgium areboth members of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023 – 2025 term.

Hue took this occasion to invite the BelgianSenate and Chamber of Representatives to send a delegation to attend the 9thGlobal Conference of Young Parliamentarians to be held in Vietnam in September.The President of the Belgian Senate confirmed that Belgium will send adelegation to Vietnam to attend this event.

After the talks, the two sides signed a letter ofintent on cooperation between the Vietnamese NA and the Belgian Parliament.

On August 21 evening, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Huewill host a banquet in honour of Senate President Stephanie D'Hose and theBelgian delegation./.