BRUSSELS — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and his Belgian counterpart Charles Michel have agreed to accelerate co-operation in numerous fields on the first day of the Vietnamese PM’s official four-day visit to Belgium which began on Tuesday.

PM Michel said the two PMs had concurred that it was a crucial moment for co-operation deals between the two Governments and businesses from both sides to be inked, at a press briefing held following the two leaders’ talks in Brussels.

During the talks, the two sides discussed a number of significant ways to intensify the economic co-operation between Việt Nam and the European nation, especially in the fields of bilateral trade and investment. They also discussed frameworks to promote free trade agreements between Việt Nam and the European Union, in which the host committed to supporting Việt Nam.

The Belgian leader added that co-operation in academia, education and training and co-operation exchanges in these areas were also discussed.

Regarding multilateral co-operation, as the president of the European Parliament in 2019, Belgium pledged to support Việt Nam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council in the 2020-21 period. The two countries would support each other to promote peace, stability, security, safety, and free navigation and aviation in the South China Sea (called East Sea by Việt Nam) and stand against unilateral acts as well as acts violating international peace and laws. They concurred that all disputes must be addressed through peaceful means and in line with international laws, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

In the spirit of mutual understanding and trust, PM Michel said Belgium would like to co-operate with Việt Nam in the field of agriculture, helping Việt Nam to develop a green farming industry with standardised processes for food safety.

For his part, the Vietnamese PM said the visit to Belgium was of significance as it took place on the occasion of the two countries celebrating their 45th year of bilateral relations. 

PM Phúc said that during the talks, the two leaders agreed to strengthen co-operation in the fields of agriculture, education and training, culture, and transportation; facilitate businesses from both sides to invest and do business in each other’s market, especially in the context of the Việt Nam - Europe Free Trade Agreement expected to be signed soon.

The PM said they also stressed the development of tertiary education to share experience in human resource training in Việt Nam; affirming that comprehensive and effective co-operation was of extreme importance in bilateral ties.

According to PM Phúc, a number of Belgian investment projects have gained successes in Việt Nam and the country was making non-stop efforts to better its investment environment to attract more foreign investors, including Belgian ones, in the future. 

PM Phúc said he had invited PM Michel to Việt Nam and the latter had accepted it with pleasure, which shows the fine friendship and relationship between Việt Nam and Belgium.

Following the talks held shortly after the Vietnamese PM arrived in the European country, the two PMs witnessed groups and enterprises from both sides signing a number of bilateral co-operation agreements in agriculture, food safety, sea ports and other fields. 

PM Phúc is due to attend the 12th ASEM Summit which is slated to take place on Thursday and Friday in Brussels.

His attendance at the 12th ASEM Summit and visits are being made at the invitation of President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel. — VNS