PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Minister-President of the Flanders region Geert Bourgeois in Hanoi, May 14, 2018. (Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu)

He told visiting Minister-President of the Flanders region Geert Bourgeois in Hanoi on Monday that the Vietnamese Government encourages local people and enterprises to enhance business cooperation with firms from the EU, including Belgium.  

Mr. Phuc said Vietnam attaches importance to economic and trade ties with the European Union (EU), and Belgium and the Flanders region in particular. Vietnam’s signing of the free trade agreement with the EU aims to promote collaboration between the two sides, he said, expressing his belief that Belgium will encourage other EU member countries to soon approve the deal. 

Minister-President Geert Bourgeois noted his support for the approval of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and held that the pact would create a momentum for economic and trade links between Vietnam and EU member countries.