Vietnam will be an honourable guest at the 61st Accenta annual international trade fair due to be held in the city of Gand in the Belgian province of East Flanders from September 9-17.

Speaking at a press briefing on the fair, Andre Denys, Governor of East Flanders, expressed his pleasure at welcoming Vietnam, one of Asian "tigers" with an economic growth rate of 8.4 percent in 2005.

Marc De Buck, first parliamentarian on economy and external relations of East Flanders, said that through the Accenta fair, international friends will see Vietnam's dynamism in economic development and diversity in national cultures.

He reviewed cooperation between Belgium and East Flanders and Vietnam, particularly the projects on cooperation in flower production between Gand University and the Vietnamese city of Da Lat and in production of construction materials between small and medium-sized enterprises.

At the function, Phan Thuy Thanh, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, briefed the group on Vietnam's important achievements in recent years and its growing role in the regional and international arena.

The diplomat expressed thanks to Belgian and East Flanders partners for inviting Vietnam to the fair. She expressed her belief that Vietnam's participation in the fair would contribute to tightening the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium in general and East Flanders in particular.
This will be the first time Vietnam participates in the Accenta international trade fair.

VNA