Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Governmentalways attaches importance to developing its friendship and multi-facetedcooperation with the French Community of Belgium (Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said on October 17.

Speaking at a reception for Minister-President of theFederation Wallonie-Bruxelles Pierre-Yves Jeholet, who has been on a visit to Vietnamfrom October 15-21, PM Chinh expressed his hope that the visit will contribute topromoting cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium and Wallonie-Bruxelles in different spheres.

He appreciated Wallonie-Bruxelles’s selection ofVietnam as the only Asian country to set up its delegation as well as its support toprojects in Vietnam over the past 25 years, significantly contributing to the nation's socio-economic development.

The PM thanked the Belgian Government and people fortheir donation of 100,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Vietnam in September 2021, consideringit a demonstration of good sentiments and deep friendship between the people of thetwo countries.

For his part, Jeholet congratulated Vietnam on itsreform achievements and lauded the country for its efforts in the pandemiccombat.

Belgium and Wallonie-Bruxelles in particular alwaysview Vietnam as a priority, important partner in the region, and want toconsolidate the multi-faceted cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation, he said.

The two sides consented to increase all-level meetingsand delegation exchanges, and pledged to continue their mutual support atmultilateral forums and international organisations, especially the InternationalOrganisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and the United Nations Human RightsCouncil to which both Vietnam and Belgium have been elected.

The two nations will also foster collaboration in culture, healthcare, and education-training, and expand cooperation to other potential sphereslike sports and heritage conservation and promotion.

PM Chinh noted with pleasure the progress in thebilateral trade ties and called on Belgium and Wallonie-Bruxelles to createfavourable conditions for Vietnamese farm produce to access the Belgian market and betterutilise great opportunities generated by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

He also called for Wallonie-Bruxelles's and Belgium’s early ratification of theEU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, and suggested the country urge theEuropean Commission (EC) to soon remove its "yellow card" warning againstVietnamese seafood.

The PM noted that Wallonie-Bruxelles’s projects havehelped Vietnam fulfill the UN sustainable development goals of poverty reduction,education and health care, and expressed his wish for stronger cooperationbetween Vietnamese localities and Wallonie-Bruxelles.

Jeholet highly valued Vietnam’s growing role andposition in maintaining peace, stability and development in the region and theworld.

He affirmed support for Vietnam's stance and agreed on the significance of settling disputes in theEast Sea by peaceful measures on the basis of respecting international law and the 1982United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./.