Prime Minister proposes early ratification of Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement

The meetings took place on December 15 within the framework of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to the Kingdom of Belgium.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked Belgium to soon complete the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA); support the European Commission (EC) to soon remove the “yellow card” on Vietnamese seafood; and support research, development, and human resource training for Vietnam.

Together we overcome the challenge of climate change

President of the Belgian House of Representatives Eliane Tillieux highly appreciated Vietnam's position, foreign affairs role and socio-economic development achievements and affirmed that EVIPA is Belgium's top priority. Belgium is currently discussing internally for early approval.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives highly appreciated Vietnam's efforts in transforming the fisheries sustainably. She also emphasized that many Belgian investors want to expand their investment in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with President of the Belgian House of Representatives Eliane Tillieux. Photo: Nhat Bac

Agreeing with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s proposals on deepening the framework of the Strategic Partnership on Agriculture between the two countries, the President of the Belgian House of Representatives shared the interest in sustainable agricultural cooperation; welcomed the two sides to step up cooperation, jointly respond to supply chain disruptions and global food security.

Regarding climate change response, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked Belgium to continue supporting Vietnam financially and technologically to develop renewable energy and supporting industries.

The President of the Belgian House of Representatives wishes to promote cooperation to jointly respond to challenges such as climate change and energy security and expressed his goodwill and readiness to strengthen cooperation in implementing international initiatives and commitments to jointly overcome challenges.

Informing that there are currently about 13,000 Vietnamese people living, studying and working in Belgium, the Prime Minister asked Belgium to continue creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to successfully integrate and contribute to the socio-economic development and cultural diversity of Belgium.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives assessed that the Vietnamese community in Belgium has integrated most successfully and affirmed that she always gives her affection and favorable support for the community to continue to develop.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh respectfully conveyed the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to the President of the Belgian House of Representatives to visit Vietnam in 2023.

Vietnam is a stable partner choice for the EU.

At the meeting with President of the Belgium-Vietnam Alliance (BVA) Andries Gryffroy and the Executive Board of the Belgium-Vietnam Alliance, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that 50% of the Belgium-Vietnam Alliance members are Vietnamese or of Vietnamese origin. Besides investment and business, the Alliance is also interested in cultural and social aspects and factors.

Mr. Andries Gryffroy expressed his strong agreement with the content of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's speech at the recent ASEAN-EU Business Summit, especially on the issues of digital transformation, green transformation, food security, etc. The Chairman and members of the BVA Board of Directors said that Belgium and Europe are looking for stable partners and Vietnam is an option.

The Prime Minister met with President of the Belgium-Vietnam Alliance Andries Gryffroy. Photo: Nhat Bac

He hopes that the Vietnamese Government will pay attention and support Belgian enterprises to invest in building cold storage warehouses to preserve agricultural products in Vietnam; and cooperate with Vietnam in the fields of logistics, construction architecture, etc.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his gratitude for the sentiments and important contributions of the President and the BVA alliance to Vietnam and the multifaceted friendship between Vietnam and Belgium over the past years.

The head of the Vietnamese Government hopes that the Belgium-Vietnam alliance will continue to be a bridge of cooperation between the two countries and Europe, and suggested that the alliance mobilize and call for investment, develop markets, and establish supply chains between Vietnam and Europe.

The Prime Minister suggested that the BVA alliance plan to implement practical activities to promote economic, trade, investment and tourism cooperation between the two countries, especially connecting cooperation between localities and people-to-people exchanges; between universities and research institutes; and actively support the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium in community activities.

Party channel cooperation continues to develop positively.

Meeting with Chairman of the Belgian Workers' Party Raoul Hedebouw, the Prime Minister expressed his wish to strengthen cooperation through Party and people channels to contribute to comprehensively promoting Vietnam-Belgium relations.

The Chairman of the Labor Party affirmed that the people of the two countries have close ties and wish to maintain contact and strengthen relations between the two Parties.

The Prime Minister met with Chairman of the Belgian Workers' Party Raoul Hedebouw. ​​Photo: Nhat Bac

The two sides were pleased to see that in recent times, cooperation through the Party channel has continued to develop positively, with practical activities contributing to promoting the friendly relations between Vietnam and Belgium, such as the publication of a collection of works including poems, speeches and writings by President Ho Chi Minh in Dutch and French to widely introduce to the Belgian and European public...

The Head of the Vietnamese Government appreciated the increasing role of the Labor Party in the House of Representatives and proposed supporting the promotion of cooperation between the two countries, especially in the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Council of Regions and the European Parliament.

Sharing the political guidelines of the Belgian Workers' Party, the President of the Belgian Workers' Party affirmed his support for the Vietnamese people and the cause of national construction and development and pledged to continue to support the deepening of the Vietnam-Belgium cooperation relationship.