While receiving Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht in Hanoi on June 12, Mr Dung said that despite the global economic slowdown, Vietnam’s economy has still achieved good results over the past five months.

He said that the Government has adopted major measures to control inflation, stabilise the macro-economy, ensure social welfare and create favourable conditions for foreign investors. He expressed the hope that Belgium will continue to support Vietnam in negotiating an investment cooperation deal with the European Union.

Minister De Gucht praised Vietnam’s achievements in poverty reduction and healthcare development. He said Belgian businesses want to invest in high-tech industries and medical equipment manufacturing in Vietnam.

At another reception for the guest the same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem proposed Belgium continue its official development assistance programme for Vietnam and support the country’s leather shoe industry in anti-dumping investigations. He also asked Belgium to allow Vietnam to benefit from the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) and recognise its market economy status.