The Vietnamese PM said Flemish firms are workingeffectively in Vietnam in seaports and logistics, renewable energy, and mining,thus making important contributions to bilateral ties.
He asked the minister and authorities from theregion to facilitate bilateral partnership in fields they hold strength and to upholdtheir role as a bridge for Vietnamese goods to enter Europe and othermarkets.
Hailing Vietnam as a leading partner inSoutheast Asia for Flanders region, Bourgeois affirmed that the visit by PMPhuc will create a new milestone in the development of Vietnam-Belgium and inparticular Vietnam-Flanders ties.
He thanked the Vietnamese Government, ministries,and agencies for their hospitality during his visit in May 2018 and stressedthat Flanders wants to double bilateral trade and foster ties across research,education-training, and transportation.
Bourgeois said Flanders supports the signing andratification of the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA),considering it a great opportunity to develop trade and investment betweenVietnam and the EU, as well as between the country and Flanders.
Following the meeting, both sides witnessed thesigning of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Flanders and theVietnamese Government.
At a reception for Minister-President ofBelgium’s Wallonia region Willy Borsus on October 16, PM Phuc highlighted thatVietnam attaches great importance to multifaceted cooperation with Belgianregions, including Wallonia.
He lauded Wallonia for choosing Vietnam as aplace to open a representative office in 1996, which has so far become adynamic partner of the region.
The PM welcomed effective joint projects in thefields of healthcare, culture, arts, vocational training, environmentalprotection, and heritage protection – all towards contributing tosocio-economic development in Vietnam, including poverty reduction.
The leader wished that Belgium’s majorbusinesses will continue investing in Vietnam, adding that the country willoffer all possible support to them in the process.
Borsus, for his part, said Wallonia considersVietnam a priority partner in the region. He discussed promising fields ofcooperation, such as farm produce processing and foodstuffs.
He noted that regional authorities support theearly signing and approval of the EVFTA to boost trade and investment betweenVietnam and Belgium, as well as between Vietnam and Wallonia.
The minister hailed Vietnamese nationals inBelgium for their contributions to socio-economic development in the hostcountry. –VNA