On April 1, at the National Assembly House, Politburo member and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man had a meeting with King Philippe of Belgium.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man welcomed Belgium as the first country in the world to pass the Resolution of the Belgian National Assembly on supporting Vietnamese orange-ysure victims, thereby contributing to promoting interest and calling on the international community to support orange-ysure victims; calling on the Parliaments of EU countries to pass similar resolutions; hoping that the two countries will actively implement the resolution through specific projects in Vietnam.
National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man expressed his delight at the positive developments in the friendship between Vietnam and Belgium in general and cooperation between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Belgian Parliament in particular through high-level visits and contacts and between lawmakers, as well as coordination at multilateral parliamentary forums such as IPU, ASEP, APF, etc., contributing to enhancing mutual understanding, strengthening political trust and promoting cooperation in all fields; affirming that Vietnam is ready to act as a bridge to promote relations between the Belgian Parliament and the ASEAN Parliamentary Alliance Council.
The two sides welcomed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Belgian Parliament; agreed to actively implement this agreement in the coming time.
King Philippe of Belgium expressed his impression and congratulated Vietnam on its socio-economic development achievements; emphasizing that Vietnam is increasingly becoming a destination for Belgian tourists and businesses.
The King of Belgium agreed that the two countries should continue to deepen cooperation in the fields of high technology, semiconductors, green energy, precision mechanics, sustainable agriculture, education - training, tourism, local cooperation, etc. through bilateral cooperation mechanisms and the framework of the Strategic Partnership on Agriculture between the two countries; said that Belgium has experience and is ready to cooperate to help Vietnam detoxify areas contaminated with Agent Orange.
In order to further promote the Vietnam - Belgium friendship relationship, as well as cooperation between the two countries' Parliaments, the two sides agreed to increase delegation exchanges at all levels, especially between the Committees and the bilateral Friendship Parliamentary Groups of the two countries' National Assemblies to exchange information and experience in the fields of legislative and supervisory affairs; coordinate positions and support each other in running for the United Nations agencies; effectively implement the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
King Belgium Philippe affirmed that the Vietnam - EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) is beneficial for both countries and Belgium as it is about to complete the ratification process of this Agreement; acknowledged the proposal of the National Assembly Chairman to promote the EC to soon remove the "yellow card" of IUU for Vietnam's seafood exports, taking into account Vietnam's efforts in implementing the EC's recommendations and developing sustainable fisheries.
National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man thanked and suggested that Belgian authorities at all levels continue to facilitate the Vietnamese community in Belgium's successful integration into the host society, serving as a bridge to promote friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
