Brussels Times hails Vietnam as sustained development partner
An article published on Belgium’s brusselstimes.com on December 12 hailed Vietnam as a sustained development partner and destination of foreign investment for the European Union (EU) in Southeast Asia.
Brussels (VNA)ಌ – An article published on Belgium’sbrusselstimes.com on December 12 hailed Vietnam as a sustained developmentpartner and destination of foreign investment for the European Union (EU) inSoutheast Asia.
The article said the EU has been making efforts to promote digital and greentransformations not only within the union but also in developing countries andregions in Southeast Asia and Africa. Cooperation between the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to somewhat repair the international supply chains problems,rebooting the globalisation process that has been declining. EU regionalpartners, such as Vietnam have great potential to promote stronger and moreeffective cooperative relations for the benefit of their respective regions andcitizens.
🙈 In its relations with the ASEAN, the EU has demonstrated itsrole as a reliable development partner, striving towards the ambitious goal ofcontributing to peace, stability, and prosperity of the two regions andglobally. In this process, Vietnam has emerged as a strong partner in addressingemerging global and regional challenges. While many countries face difficultiesand potential recession risks, Vietnam's economic growth continues to recoverpositively with GDP.
Accordingto the article, Vietnam is the onlycountry in the Asia-Pacific region and one of the four countries in the world thathas its credit rating upgraded by Moody's. With its business and investmentenvironment continuously improving, Vietnam is increasingly gaining strongertrust amongst foreign investors and in the international financial markets. Inthe first nine months of this year, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnamwas estimated at 15.4 billion USD, up 16.3% over the same period last year. The Vietnamesegovernment has particularly advocated to improve the quality and efficiency ofFDI capital to the country, prioritising environment-friendly projects withadvanced technology. This development has opened up new cooperationopportunities for EU and Vietnamese enterprises. With many similarities inpolitical wills and strategic interests, Vietnam and EU member states have thepotential to promote stronger and more effective cooperation, it added.
Global challenges,including climate change, pollution, and environmental degradation, are also ofmajor concerns to Vietnam. Energy security has become a global issue, forcingmany countries to adjust their use of fossil energy and reduce greenhouse gasemissions. Vietnam strives to become an active member of the Just EnergyTransition Partnership (JETP) framework, launched by the G-7 group by remainingcommitted to become carbon neutral by 2050, phase out coal by 2040, enddeforestation, and reduce methane emissions by 2030.
൲ Furthermore, in October, Vietnam was elected tothe UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term. It showed Vietnam's commitmentto promoting and protecting human rights. With the new role, Vietnam will havethe opportunity to contribute to the promotion of human rights in the worldbased on cooperation and dialogue.
About Vietnam’srelationship with the EU, the article said it is currently considered to be atits prime in history. From an aid recipient, Vietnam has now become an equaland mutually beneficial partner. Currently, Vietnam and the EU have close tieswith many cooperative frameworks, such as the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement(EVFTA), which took effect on August 1, 2020. The EU is Vietnam'sleading trading partner with the former being the third largest export marketand the fifth largest import market of Vietnam. The EU is also the fifthlargest foreign investor in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 27.6billion USD by August 2022, it said./.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s trip to attend an ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit and visit Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium from December 9 to 15 is expected to promote and lift the Vietnam-EU cooperation to a new height, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Nguyen Van Thao.
Vietnam and the European Union (EU) should work together to accelerate the transition towards “a carbon-neutral, resource-efficient and circular economy” to tackle climate change, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries has said.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jiri Kozak on December 12 affirmed that the country supports efforts to strengthen ties between Vietnam and the EU.
The European Union (EU) considers Vietnam one of its most important partners in the Indo-Pacific region, said Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Vice-President of the European Commission (EC).
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
