Vietnam and Belgium’s Wallonie-Bruxelles region signed cooperation minutes for the 2019-2021 period in Brussels on November 21, covering a total of 25 projects, as part of the 10th meeting of the Vietnam – Wallonie-Bruxelles Joint Committee.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Vu Dai Thang (right) and General Director of Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI) Pascale Delcomminette at the signing ceremony. (Photo: VNA)
Brussels (VNA) – Vietnam and Belgium’sWallonie-Bruxelles region signed cooperation minutes for the 2019-2021 periodin Brussels on November 21, covering a total of 25 projects, as part of the 10thmeeting of the Vietnam – Wallonie-Bruxelles Joint Committee.
Accordingly, the two sides will promote collaboration inindustrial development, agriculture, transport, the environment, the fourthIndustrial Revolution, healthcare, education, tourism, culture and Francophoneissues.
Among the 25 projects there are 13 new ones, including aproject on enhancing professional and French language skills for journalists ofthe Vietnam News Agency.
The 10th meeting of the Vietnam – Wallonie-BruxellesJoint Committee took place on November 20-21 under the chair of Vietnamese DeputyMinister of Planning and Investment Vu Dai Thang and General Director ofWallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI) Pascale Delcomminette.
At the meeting, Pascale Delcomminette highlighted the closecooperation between Vietnam and Wallonie-Bruxelles over the past 25 years withmany useful projects.
Wallonie-Bruxelles will coordinate with the WallonieExport-Investment Agency (AWEX) in Vietnam and competent agencies to seekcooperation opportunities and to serve the implementation of joint projects.
For his part, Thang applauded the support of the BelgianGovernment and people in general and the Wallonie-Bruzelles region inparticular, for Vietnam’s development.
The freshly-inked projects will contribute to materializing commitmentsmade by Governments of the two countries in the spirit of the Vietnam-Belgiumjoint statement issued during the official visit to Belgium by Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc last October, he said.
During the two-day meeting, the two sides reviewed outcomesof cooperation between Vietnam and Wallonie-Bruxelles in the 2016-2018 period,and discussed the building of action plans and cooperation programmes in thenext three years.
They said projects deployed over the past three years havebrought about benefits to both sides, and agreed to pay more attention toapplied research towards a cooperation programme on industrial and economicdevelopment, in the context of the Vietnamese Government striving to turn thecountry into a startup nation.-VNA
Vietnam’s Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held a political consultation with Secretary General of the Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs of Belgium Dirk Achten.
Belgium was one of the first Western countries to set up diplomatic relations with Vietnam following the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. From then on, the bilateral relations have been strengthen.
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.
Belgium’s lower house of parliament backs expanding cooperation with Vietnam at all levels, said President of the Chamber of Representatives Siegfried Bracke when meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Brussels on October 17.
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.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the Central Public Security Party Committee must be fully aware of the extremely important role of the People's Public Security force in the country's new revolutionary phase, so as to guide each branch and level of the force as the nation undergoes transformation.
Addressing concerns over university education spending, Son explained that as public universities gain greater autonomy, the Ministry of Finance has scaled back recurrent state funding. “Over the past decade, as autonomy has increased, the State's support has steadily declined”, he noted
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
The Chairman stressed the need for stricter fiscal discipline, faster digital transformation, and more efficient management of State budget revenues and expenditures.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Vu Dai Thang (right) and General Director of Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI) Pascale Delcomminette at the signing ceremony. (Photo: VNA) 
