Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister PhamMinh Chinh hosted a reception  in Hanoi on November 6 for thenew-appointed Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Karl Van Den Bossche, during whichthe host affirmed that Vietnam always treasures its ties with Belgium.

PM Chinh said that he hoped during his working tenure, theBelgian diplomat will make contributions to the growth of the Vietnam-Belgiumfriendship and cooperation, especially when the two countries will celebratethe 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations, and the 5th anniversaryof bilateral strategic partnership in agriculture in 2023.

The PM thanked the Government and people of Belgium forproviding 100,000 doses of Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine for Vietnam,considering it as a kind gesture in the bilateral relationship.

Highlighting the positive development of the Vietnam-Belgium relationshipin all fields and at all levels despite COVID-19 impacts, the government leadersuggested the two countries increase the exchange of delegations at all levels,especially high-level ones to seek specific measures to strengthen multifacetedcooperation between the two countries.

PM Chinh expressed delight at the rise in two-way trade, notingthat the figure reached 3.3 billion USD in the first eight months of this year,and many Belgium businesses have successfully operated in Vietnam, especiallyin maritime transport, logistics and renewable energy.

He suggested Belgium create favourable conditions forVietnamese farm produce to enter the market, expressing his hope that thebusiness community of the two countries will continue to cooperate closely andoptimise all opportunities from the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) tobeef up bilateral trade and investment ties.

He also proposed Belgium soon ratify the EU-VietnamInvestment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and urge the European Commission toremove the “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood.

The two countries should continue to cooperate with andsupport each other at multilateral forums and organisations, especially theUnited Nations, Asia- Europe Meeting, International Organization of LaFrancophonie (OIF), and ASEAN-EU Summit, and coordinate in organising theASEAN-EU Summit in mid-December in Belgium, he said.

For his part, Bossche underlined that Belgium always attachesgreat importance to its friendship and cooperation with Vietnam, and laudedVietnam’s achievements in post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and developmentas well as the country’s role and position in the region and the world.

The ambassador pledged that he will work hard to furtherpromote the partnership between the two countries in areas where Belgium hasstrength and Vietnam has demand such as sustainable agriculture, digitaleconomy, green growth and energy transition.

He also vowed to coordinate with the Vietnamese side to organise celebrationsof the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations.

The diplomat also stressed that he will focus on bolsteringbilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation and bringing more Belgianinvestors to Vietnam, adding that the Belgian side will work closely withVietnam to hold the meeting of the Vietnam-Belgium Joint Committee andpolitical consultation in mid-November. 

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides agreed on the importanceof maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation andaviation, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes in line withinternational law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS)./.