The meeting was co-chaired by Permanent Deputy-Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and his Belgian counterpart Dirk Achten.
Permanent Deputy- Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son. Photo: VNA
During the event, the two sides agreed to increase delegation exchanges of delegations at all levels and support each other at international forums and organizations.
Belgium pledges to sign and approve the bilateral free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Union (EU), or (EVFTA) in short, in 2018, said Achten.
Besides, they will promote trade cooperation and create favorable conditions for their businesses to find partners in fields of marine transport, logistics services, green technology, agriculture, renewable energy, and healthcare.
Particularly, Vietnam and Belgium will continue to hold regular meetings of the joint committee on economic cooperation in order to navigate their economic relations and improve the efficiency of other cooperation mechanisms between the two countries, while fostering cooperation among localities of Vietnam and Belgium.
Both Son and Achten highlighted the bilateral cooperation in culture and education towards training long-term high-quality human resources.
In addition, they underlined the importance of peace, stability, security, aviation and navigation freedom and safety in the East Sea, and the peaceful settlement of disputes without the use of force or threats ofto use force, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS) and on the basis of respect for legal and diplomatic processes.
They will also continue to coordinate in organizing activities to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
During his visit to Vietnam, Achten co-presided over the fourth meeting of the Vietnam-Belgium Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation, toured the Vietnam Peacekeeping Center and the Diplomatic University of Vietnam, and attended a seminar to review 40 years of Vietnam-Belgium cooperation in agriculture.
Translated by Van Hieu