Brussels, October 24, 2026 – The Europe Today: General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President Tô Lâm met with Belgian Senate Speaker Vincent Blondel and President of the House of Representatives Peter De Roover on Friday as part of his official visit to Belgium, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding economic cooperation.
The Belgian parliamentary leaders warmly welcomed Tô Lâm and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, describing the visit as an important opportunity to consolidate political trust and generate fresh momentum for bilateral ties at a time when relations between the two countries are at their strongest.
They commended Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and growing international standing, reaffirming Belgium’s commitment to its longstanding friendship with Vietnam and expressing their desire to deepen cooperation with the Vietnamese National Assembly.
A key development discussed during the meeting was the Belgian House of Representatives’ approval of the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) on the evening of October 22, a day before the meeting. The Belgian leaders described the decision as tangible evidence of both countries’ determination to expand economic, trade and investment cooperation.
President Tô Lâm welcomed the approval, noting that Belgian King Philippe had personally conveyed the news to him on October 23. He expressed confidence that the agreement would create more favourable conditions for cooperation, particularly by encouraging investment and strengthening partnerships between businesses in the two countries.
The Vietnamese leader also expressed profound gratitude for the Belgian House of Representatives’ adoption, in October 2023, of a resolution calling for support for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange. He noted that the Belgian legislature was the first and, at the time of the statement, the only foreign legislative body to adopt such a resolution.
Tô Lâm said the gesture had deeply moved the Vietnamese people, reflecting friendship, humanitarian values and Belgium’s solidarity with Vietnam’s efforts to address the consequences of war.
Both sides welcomed the expansion of bilateral engagement at multiple levels, including among senior leaders, governments, legislatures, local authorities, businesses and citizens.
The Belgian parliamentary leaders also praised Vietnam’s visa exemption policy allowing Belgian citizens to stay in the country for up to 45 days, noting that the measure contributes to greater mutual understanding, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
Parliamentary cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, with both sides recognising its important role in strengthening political trust and advancing bilateral relations.
Referring to the parliamentary cooperation agreement signed in February 2025, Tô Lâm called for its effective implementation through exchanges of delegations, regular contacts between parliamentary leaders and specialised agencies, and the sharing of legislative and supervisory experience.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening parliamentary friendship groups and enhancing coordination between the two legislatures at regional and international parliamentary forums.
On economic relations, the Vietnamese leader noted that bilateral trade had continued to grow but remained below the level justified by the strong political relationship and the economic potential of both countries.
He called for broader cooperation that would extend beyond cargo transportation to include investment, economic development and other areas, particularly following Belgium’s approval of EVIPA.
Tô Lâm also urged the Belgian parliamentary leaders to support the early elevation of bilateral relations to a new level and facilitate stronger economic and investment partnerships. He identified science, technology and innovation as priority areas for future cooperation.
The Belgian leaders expressed their support for expanding partnerships with Vietnam, including in cargo transportation and maritime security, underscoring the scope for closer collaboration in areas of shared interest.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Tô Lâm conveyed cordial greetings from Vietnamese National Assembly President Trần Thanh Mẫn and extended an invitation to the Belgian Senate Speaker and the President of the House of Representatives to visit Vietnam.
The meeting highlighted the shared commitment of Vietnam and Belgium to strengthening parliamentary diplomacy, facilitating investment and trade, and expanding cooperation in science, technology, innovation and other strategic sectors.
