(VOVworld) – The President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, André Flahaut, expressed his support for the peaceful settlement of East Sea issues.

President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives André Flahaut and Chairman of HCM City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan (Source: VNA)

Flahaut made the statement at a meeting with the Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Le Hoang Quan, in Brussels on Monday. Chairman Quan expressed his hope that, as President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, Flahaut will join the international community in raising its voice against China’s illegal placement of oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, with its actions further complicating the situation.

Chairman Quan, who is also a member of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee, said that Vietnam pursued a consistent policy of solving issues through dialogue in the spirit of respecting national sovereignty, and asked China to comply with international law.

Flahaut said Vietnam was Belgium’s partner and that Belgium had implemented many bilateral cooperative activities with Vietnam, based on friendship and solidarity. Flahaut highlighted great potential for cooperation between Belgian and Vietnamese localities. He noted that the new government in Belgium had praised relations with Vietnam and congratulated Vietnam for the socio-economic developments it had recently made.