Hanoi, April 01, 2025 – The Europe Today: Vietnam is committed to strengthening multi-faceted cooperation with Belgium, recognizing its important role within the European Union (EU), stated State President Lương Cường during a meeting with Belgian King Philippe on Tuesday.
After hosting an official welcome ceremony in Hanoi, President Cường warmly received King Philippe and the high-ranking Belgian delegation on their first state visit to Vietnam since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973. The visit marks a historic milestone, ushering in a new chapter in the bilateral friendship.
President Cường expressed deep appreciation for Belgium’s past support in Vietnam’s struggle for national independence, as well as the personal contributions of the King and Queen toward fostering Vietnam-Belgium relations.
King Philippe, in turn, expressed his pleasure in visiting Vietnam once again, recalling his three previous visits as Crown Prince. He commended Vietnam’s impressive socio-economic progress and reaffirmed Belgium’s commitment to strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Expanding Bilateral Cooperation
During their discussions, both leaders outlined key areas to enhance bilateral ties, emphasizing increased exchanges at all levels, particularly high-level meetings across Party, State, Government, and National Assembly channels. They agreed to sustain existing cooperation mechanisms and explore new frameworks for deepening specialized collaborations.
They also pledged to coordinate closely at international forums such as the ASEAN-EU framework, the Francophonie, and the United Nations, especially at the UN Human Rights Council, where both nations serve as members for the 2023-2025 term.
President Cường expressed gratitude for Belgium’s approval of the Belgian Federal Parliament’s Resolution supporting Vietnamese Agent Orange victims. He underscored the resolution’s significance and called for its swift implementation to raise global awareness of Agent Orange’s consequences in Vietnam.
Economic and Trade Collaboration
Recognizing the crucial role of economic and trade relations, both leaders agreed to further implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). President Cường urged Belgium to expedite the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to enhance equal and mutually beneficial investment opportunities.
The Vietnamese President encouraged Belgian businesses to increase investments in Vietnam, particularly in high technology, renewable energy, digital transformation, and strategic infrastructure. He also called on Belgium to advocate for the European Commission to remove the IUU ‘yellow card’ on Vietnamese seafood exports.
King Philippe expressed Belgium’s keen interest in contributing to Vietnam’s wastewater treatment, energy, and rare mineral exploitation sectors.
Advancing Agricultural and Technological Partnerships
Both leaders highlighted the importance of the Vietnam-Belgium Strategic Partnership in Agriculture, focusing on circular agricultural economies, smart agriculture, and technology transfer in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. These efforts will aid Vietnam’s climate change response, particularly in the Mekong Delta.
They also explored the possibility of establishing an agricultural cooperation program between Vietnam and Belgian regions.
Broadening Cooperation in Innovation and Education
The two sides agreed to expand cooperation beyond agriculture, education, tourism, defense, and security to include green technology, artificial intelligence, high-tech industries, and the startup ecosystem. They also emphasized training high-quality human resources, particularly in the semiconductor sector.
President Cường acknowledged Belgium’s support for the Vietnamese community residing in the country and encouraged further efforts to facilitate their integration and contribution to Belgian society, fostering stronger people-to-people ties.
Shared Commitment to Multilateralism and Regional Stability
On international issues, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and the rule of law. They emphasized the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea (East Sea), in accordance with the UN Charter and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ensuring regional peace, security, and stability.
This landmark visit sets the stage for deepened Vietnam-Belgium cooperation across multiple sectors, further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations.
