Belgian King’s visit to Vietnam: A catalyst for stronger bilateral ties
Pierre Gréga, President of the Belgium-Vietnam Friendship Association, hailed the upcoming state visit of Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde to Vietnam from March 31 to April 4 as a “golden opportunity” to strengthen the bilateral partnership.
Pierre Gréga, President of the Belgium-Vietnam Friendship Association, speaks at event supporting Vietnamese Agent Orange victims in Brussels, Belgium, February 2025. (Photo: VNA)
Brussels (VNA)♕ – The upcoming state visit of Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde to Vietnam from March 31 to April 4 is anticipated to usher in a new chapter in Vietnam-Belgium relations, fostering deeper cooperation across multiple sectors.
Pierre Gréga, President of the Belgium-Vietnam Friendship Association, hailed the visit as a “golden opportunity” to strengthen the bilateral partnership.
Speaking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Brussels, Gréga emphasised the significant potential for collaboration between the two nations. Despite being relatively small on the global stage, both Vietnam and Belgium stand to benefit greatly from enhanced cooperation, particularly amid current global uncertainties driven by major power dynamics.
Gréga highlighted the shared challenges facing both countries and suggested they could support one another on international platforms such as the United Nations. He also pointed to promising economic prospects, notably in maritime trade, citing the strategic linkage between the Port of Antwerp and Da Nang Port. Additionally, he underscored the rich history of educational and scientific collaboration, with thriving student and researcher exchange programs strengthening ties between the two nations' academic institutions.
Fostering relations built on mutual respect and seeking win-win measures will be key to achieving sustainable growth, he added.
Belgian Minister of State André Flahaut echoed this optimism, stressing the importance of bolstering bilateral ties, particularly through improved visa policies. He underscored the need to facilitate easier access for students, researchers, and professionals, viewing this as vital for advancing cooperation. Flahaut also urged Belgium to expedite the ratification of international agreements to further boost engagement with Vietnam.
The visit by the Belgian King and Queen is expected to invigorate the Vietnam-Belgium partnership, unlocking new opportunities for collaboration in trade, education, science, and more. With mutual understanding and respect for cultural diversity seen as key pillars, this visit is set to deepen bonds and strengthen the foundation for long-term cooperation./.
Vietnamese bookcases in Belgium provide not only Vietnamese expatriates but also international friends with an opportunity to deepen their understanding and appreciation of Vietnamese cultural values.
Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh highlighted the vital role of the Vietnamese intellectual diaspora in national development. He proposed a strategy for training financial professionals, including sending them to Luxembourg for study, to contribute to the development of key financial centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.
A delegation of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee led by its member and Chairman of the NA Committee for Culture and Education Nguyen Dac Vinh paid a working visit to Belgium from December 4-7, with the aim of consolidating and deepening the bilateral friendship.
Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, along with a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam arrived in Seongnam Air Base in Seoul on August 10 afternoon (local time), beginning a state visit to the Republic of Korea from August 10-13.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
