(VOVworld)- Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong met with Belgian Chamber of Representatives President Andre Flahaut and Belgian Senate President Sabine Baronne De Bethune on Friday. Flahaut told his guest: “The strengthening of inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries is an opportunity for us to discuss constitutional issues, the balance of power and law building, which are closer to the reality of socio-economic development. Your visit to Belgium marks a milestone in bilateral ties”.
Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong said Vietnam wants to boost comprehensive cooperation with Belgium, an important role player in Europe and the world and one of Vietnam’s key EU partners. “The relationship has stood the test of time through the ups and downs in each country’s history. The Vietnam-Belgium ties have developed into a new height at the federal, regional, community and local levels. Our European visits aim to thank the fine sentiments and effective support of people of Belgium and the EU over the past years”, said Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong.
They agreed to increase practical cooperation between the two parliaments by maintaining exchanges of high-level meetings, delegations, and parliamentary friendship groups. They committed to sharing legislative and supervisory experiences in the interests of strengthening bilateral relations during the lead up to 2013’s 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties. They also underlined the need to enhance economic, trade, and investment relations, and cooperate more closely at international forums.
Flahaut praised Vietnam’s renewal achievements and its burgeoning regional and international role, adding that his country attaches great importance to EU-ASEAN relations. He hopes that as coordinator of ASEAN-EU relations, Vietnam will promote effective, cooperative relations between the two regions.
Earlier, Trong visited Brussels City Hall and met with Brussels City Mayor Freddy Thielemans. The Party chief said Vietnam wanted Brussels’ support in improving the quality of its human resource training and fostering the best possible conditions for Belgian businesses to study and expand investment in the Vietnamese market. The Party leader suggested both sides should coordinate closely to successfully celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. During their visit, the Vietnamese delegation also met with the Belgian Defense Minister, as well as with representatives from the Belgian Labor Party.