(VOVWORLD) -Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Belgian counterpart, Charles Michel held talks in Brussels on Tuesday afternoon (local time). They agreed to enhance economic cooperation and improve the effectiveness of cooperation projects as well as coordination among mechanisms.
 Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc shakes hands with his Belgian counterpart, Charles Michel before their talks (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA) |
The leaders stressed the need to create conditions for connecting Vietnamese and Belgian partners, especially in fields Belgium holds strength and Vietnam has demand for, namely transportation, seaports, logistics services, green technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy. The establishment of a strategic partnership in agriculture and cooperation in food safety and hygiene between the two countries will provide optimal conditions for high-quality Vietnamese agricultural and fishery products to enter Belgium and vice versa. They will also help the agricultural sectors of both sides to expand production and apply high technology to meet sustainability requirements.
The two Prime Ministers added that Vietnam and Belgium should build on what they have achieved so far in development cooperation and collaboration in education-training, science-technology, justice, and culture.
Afterwards, Prime Minister Phuc and Prime Minister Michel told reporters of the results of the talks.
They said they had agreed to promote cooperation in multiple fields and had discussed cooperation in education and training, a framework to enhance free trade agreements between Vietnam and the EU. The two countries will help each other ensure peace and security in the East Sea and protest unilateral actions that violate peace and international law.
Prime Minister Michel said Belgium wants to work with Vietnam in agriculture, helping Vietnam develop clean agriculture and procedures to ensure food safety.
Prime Minister Phuc said his 4-day visit to Belgium is particularly important because it coincides with the 45th founding anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties.
Mr. Phuc told the press that he and PM Michel had agreed to bolster ties in agriculture, education, training, culture, transportation and business investment, with the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement to be signed soon.