Party Chief meets with Belgian leaders

The Belgian parliamentary leaders described the Vietnamese delegation’s official visit as a vivid manifestation of the fine relations between Vietnam and Belgium.

Chamber of Representatives President Flahaut said the Vietnamese Party leader’s visit establishes a new historic landmark in bilateral relations.

Trong said Vietnam is keen to boost all-round cooperation with Belgium—an important role player in Europe and the world and one of Vietnam’s key EU partners.

Both sides expressed pleasure at the positive developments of relations across various fields and at all levels, affirming the importance of the legislative bodies’ relationship to bilateral ties.

They agreed to increase practical cooperation between the two parliaments by maintaining exchanges of high-level meetings, delegations, and parliamentary friendship groups. They committed to sharing legislative and supervisory experiences in the interests of strengthening bilateral relations during the lead up to 2013’s 40^th anniversary of diplomatic ties.  They also underlined the need to enhance economic, trade, and investment relations, and cooperate more closely at international forums.

Flahaut praised Vietnam’s renewal achievements and its burgeoning regional and international role, adding that his country attaches great importance to EU-ASEAN relations. He hopes that as coordinator of ASEAN-EU relations, Vietnam will promote effective, cooperative relations between the two regions.

Earlier, Trong visited Brussels City Hall and met with Brussels City Mayor Freddy Thielemans.

The Mayor briefed Trong on the Belgian capital’s development history and the process through which it became the administrative heart of the EU. He also spoke highly of the overseas Vietnamese community’s contributions to the capital city’s development.

The Party chief said he is very pleased to visit Brussels, a place he considers an international cultural capital. Vietnam hails its cooperation with Brussels on education and training, noting many of Brussels’ universities enjoy established relations with universities in Vietnam.

Vietnam wants Brussels’ support in improving the quality of its human resource training and fostering the best possible conditions for Belgian businesses to study and expand investment in the Vietnamese market, Trong said.

The Party leader suggested both sides should coordinate closely to successfully celebrate the 40^th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

During their visit, the Vietnamese delegation also met with the Belgian Defence Minister, as well as with representatives from the Belgian Labour Party.