Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives the Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Karl Van Den Bossche. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister suggested that both sides continue to enhance the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation mechanisms and coordinate closely at international forums and organizations. He called for strengthening cooperation in traditional areas such as defense and security, culture, education and training, climate change response, and tourism and expand cooperation into strategic areas of science and technology, semiconductor chips, and transportation.

Prime Minister Chinh proposed that Belgium soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and voice support for the European Commission (EC) to remove the illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood. He encouraged Belgian enterprises to increase investment in Vietnam and called on Belgium to continue providing non-refundable ODA, particularly for projects in education and training, vocational training, health care, environment, and addressing the consequences of war.

The Ambassador reiterated Belgium’s readiness to stand alongside Vietnam in achieving its socio-economic development goals, including addressing the consequences of war. Belgium is the only country that has adopted a Resolution on supporting victims of Agent Orange and is committed to supporting Vietnam in environmental decontamination efforts and assisting victims.