Brussels (VNA) – Belgium wants to strengthen relationswith Vietnam and further expand new cooperation fields, President of the Belgian Senate Jacques Brotchi toldVietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

During a meeting with the visiting Vietnamese top legislator in Brussels on April4, Brotchi highlighted the fruitful development of the Belgium-Vietnamrelations, especially in university-level education and economic links.

He asserted his country’s wish to foster cooperation with Vietnam, adding that thetwo sides can easily find a common voice in issues of mutual concern.

There is great potential for the two countries to forge ties in healthcare, hesaid, noting that Belgium wants to collaborate with Vietnam in the field, whichBelgium is strong.

Many Belgian firms hope to extend their investment and operations in theSoutheast Asian nation, he added.

NA Chairwoman Ngan saidthe Vietnamese delegation’s visit to Belgium aims to maintain and furtherbolster comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in general, andtheir legislative bodies in particular.

She briefed her host on Vietnam’s socio-economic development, and the country’sefforts in realising the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especiallyin promoting gender equality, poverty reduction, healthcare, and education.

Vietnam is working to realise the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) towards2030, she said, adding that Vietnam has issued its National Action Plan to implementthe 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Investors can feel secure investing and doing business in Vietnam due to its stablepolitics and society, she stressed.

According to Ngan, Vietnam has trade ties with about 200 countries andterritories worldwide. European countries, including Belgium, are big markets forVietnam. In 2018, two-way trade between Vietnam and Belgium hit 2.8 billionUSD. Belgian enterprises operating in Vietnam have recorded strong developmentin recent years.

While appreciating the health cooperation-related proposals of  Belgian Senate President Brotchi, NAChairwoman Ngan said she will convey the information to the Vietnamese Ministryof Health for consideration.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed issues concerning the accelerationof signing and approval of the European Union (EU)-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement(EVFTA).

The Vietnamese top legislator mentioned the benefits of both sides in promotingEVFTA, while suggesting the Senate President support and promote the signing ofthe trade pact soon, towards realising benefits brought by the agreement to Vietnam,Belgium, and the EU.

Vietnam has beenimplementing recommendations from the EU and the European Parliament, Ngan said,adding that the parties concerned had open and straightforward dialogues.

For his part, Brotchi spoke of Vietnam’s endeavours in the work and affirmedhis support for the EVFTA, saying that he will contribute to promoting thesigning and ratification of the agreement.

He also accepted the Vietnamese top legislator’s invitation to pay an official visitto Vietnam at a suitable time. –VNA