Freshly signed MoU promotes Vietnam-Belgium cooperation
Freshly signed MoU promotes Vietnam-Belgium cooperation: Belgian official
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Vietnamese Government and the administration of Belgium’s Flemish region on October 17 as part of PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to the European country, confirming the increasingly extensive cooperation between the two sides.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Minister-President of the Government of Flanders Geert Bourgeois (Photo: VNA)
Brussels (VNA) – A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signedbetween the Vietnamese Government and the administration of Belgium’s Flemishregion on October 17 as part of PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to the Europeancountry, confirming the increasingly extensive cooperation between the twosides.
In an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency’s correspondent in Brussels,Minister-President of the Government of Flanders Geert Bourgeois said that theMoU signing came after the first deal inked in 2013, underlining the long-termpartnership between Vietnam and Belgium in general and the Flemish Region inparticular.
Praising Vietnam’s economic development in the past 30 years, with animpressive GDP growth of 6-7 percent per year, he said that Vietnam shouldcontinue updating its international frameworks to attract more foreigninvestors, which will help Vietnamese firms better integrate into the global valuechain.
The Belgian Government will continue to support the early ratification of theEU-Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) which promotes free and fair tradetowards sustainable growth among its members, he stressed, expressing hisbelief that the EVFTA and the freshly-inked MoU are expected to help theFlemish region to double its exports to Vietnam to 1 billion EUR (about 1.16billion USD) over the next three years.
Vietnam is currently the fourth largest export market of Flanders in Southeast Asia.Around 70-80 percent of Belgian shipments to Vietnam come from the region. Lastyear, Flanders shipped 492 million EUR (nearly 570 million USD) worth ofproducts to Vietnam, up 22.23 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, Vietnam’sexports to the region surged some 20.86 percent and the figure is expected to riseeven further in the future.
In recent times, Vietnamese localities and the Flemish region have enjoyed fruitfulcooperation, especially relating to transportation and the environment.Flanders invested 4.4 million EUR (around 5.1 million USD) in joint researchprogrammes of the Research Founderation: Flanders (FWO), and Vietnam’s NationalFoundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED), he added. –VNA
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s tour to Belgium and the European Union (EU) marks important milestones for Vietnam-Belgium relations and the Vietnam-EU Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation, a diplomat has said.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived in Brussels, Belgium, in the afternoon of October 16 (local time), where he will attend the 12th ASEM Summit, pay a working visit to the European Union and make an official visit to Belgium.
The Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Belgium announced at a joint press conference in Brussels on October 16 that they had agreed to promote cooperation between the two countries in multiple fields.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Belgian counterpart, Charles Michel, highlighted the strides in the two countries’ relations in numerous spheres during their talks in Brussels on the afternoon of October 16 (local time).
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke highly of growing ties between Vietnam and the Flanders region of Belgium during a reception in Brussels on October 17 for the regional Minister-President Geert Bourgeois.
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.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Minister-President of the Government of Flanders Geert Bourgeois (Photo: VNA) 
