Thao, who is head of the Vietnam's Delegation to the European Union, emphasized that although Belgium is a small country, it holds a strategically important position at the heart of Europe, where the administrative and political bodies of the E.U. are based. With a strong and developed economy, Belgium is among the high-income countries in the E.U. It established diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1973, opening up long-term cooperation opportunities between the two countries.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao. |
Over the past 50 years, the relationship has achieved significant accomplishments in various fields. However, the diplomat affirmed that the potential for cooperation between Vietnam and the E.U. in general, and Belgium in particular, remains huge.
Therefore, high-level visits aimed at strengthening political trust and creating new frameworks for cooperation are very important, he said, noting that the King’s upcoming trip, one of his two state visits each year, highlights the special importance of Vietnam in Belgium's foreign relations.
This is also a crucial opportunity to promote cooperation between the two countries, as well as between Vietnam and the E.U., he added.
According to the ambassador, after signing the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with the E.U., Vietnam closely cooperated with Belgium to establish a strategic partnership in the agricultural sector in 2018.
Since the E.U.-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) was inked in 2019, the relationship has strengthened significantly, especially in investment and trade. Currently, many Belgian businesses are paying attention to Vietnam, and the delegation accompanying King Philippe during this visit includes 34 CEOs of large corporations and 18 Belgian universities. This reflects Belgium's growing interest in Vietnam as a strategic partner in various fields, including areas where both countries have strengths and cooperation needs, stressed Thao.
He pointed out to three outstanding areas for cooperation between the two nations, namely green transport, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy.
Health and education are also promising collaboration aspects, Thao affirmed, believing that Belgian universities are attractive choices for Vietnamese students.
Regarding future collaboration, the ambassador expected that numerous opportunities will be opened up, considering the fact that both countries have reached a certain level of development, and need to diversify and expand their cooperation in the current international context. For Vietnam, Belgium plays a crucial role as a gateway to the E.U. market, a large region with around 450 million people and a total GDP of nearly EUR 17 trillion (USD 18.3 trillion). It has strong purchasing power and significant import demand, approximately EUR 3 trillion annually.
Moreover, Thao also mentioned that the demand for imports from Vietnam to the E.U. is very high, which is why Vietnam is currently the E.U.'s largest trade partner in ASEAN. He expressed his belief that with further enhancing cooperation, the two-way trade turnover will not just maintain its current level but will continue to grow strongly in the coming time.
Source: VNA