Brussels (VNA) – PrimeMinister Pham Minh Chinh met with President of the Belgian Senate StephanieD’Hose and Princess Astrid of Belgium on late December 15 as part of hisofficial visit to the European country.

Talking to Senate President StephanieD’Hose, the Government leader of Vietnam affirmed the determination to furtherintensify cooperation between the two countries.

He took this occasion to conveyNational Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s invitation to his host to visit Vietnamin 2023 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateraldiplomatic relations.

D’Hose said all Belgianparliamentarians present at the meeting have special and long-lasting sentimenttowards Vietnam, and they hope to develop the countries’ ties more intensivelyand extensively.

She also described PM Chinh’sofficial visit to Belgium as a success, noting she is interested in theeconomic aspects discussed during the trip.

The two leaders hailed the encouragingoutcomes generated by the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) after twoyears of enforcement and agreed to keep strengthening bilateral investment andtrade partnerships and jointly coping with common challenges such asenvironmental pollution and climate change, especially in the Mekong Delta ofVietnam.

PMChinh asked the Federal Parliament of Belgium to soon complete the ratification process for the EU -Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) so as to create an optimalinvestment climate for the two business circles. He also called for its supportfor the European Commission’s early removal of the “yellow card” warning for Vietnam’sfisheries sector.

Noting he is impressed with the IMECresearch and innovation hub in the Flanders region, he suggested the BelgianSenate assist Vietnam in setting up an innovation centre similar to the IMECmodel.

The PM also asked the SenatePresident to continue providing favourable conditions for the Vietnamesecommunity in Belgium so that they can serve as a bridge linking the twocountries.

At a separate meeting with Princess Astrid,PM Chinh appreciated the Belgian Princess and Royal Family’s sentiment towardsas well as support for Vietnam and the two countries’ relations.

Vietnam always attaches importance toand hopes to enhance comprehensive cooperation with Belgium, he underlined.

PrincessAstrid lauded the strides in bilateral ties and highly valued the outcomes ofher guest’s visits to three European countries and attendance in the ASEAN - EUCommemorative Summit, as seen in the signing of many documents, particularlythose on economy - trade and higher education.

Thetwo sides expressed their delight at the progress of their countries’cooperation, of which investment and trade partnerships form an importantpillar.

PM Chinh proposed Princess Astrid encourageBelgian enterprises to further step up trade and investment links with Vietnam.

Healso delivered Vietnamese leaders’ invitation to the King, Queen, and Princessof Belgium to visit the Southeast Asian nation in 2023 on the occasion of the50th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations./.