President Tran Dai Quang applauded Belgian Ambassador Jehanne Roccas’ contributions to boosting the Vietnam-Belgium cooperation and deepening mutual understanding over the past more than three years, particularly to events celebrating 45 years of bilateral diplomatic relations earlier this year.
| President Tran Dai Quang and Belgian Ambassador Jehanne Roccas (L) |
At a July 26 reception in Hanoi for the Belgian diplomat who came to bid adieu before finishing her term in Vietnam, President Quang affirmed the country’s high regard for its friendship with Belgium, adding that both nations are now important economic partners with lots of investment cooperation projects, however, their bilateral trade is still below their full potential.
Educational cooperation is one of the highlights of bilateral ties across politics, culture, and education, which has remarkably progressed over the years, thereby helping to promote the image of each nation among their people.
Quang said he hopes that Belgium will continue its support for the training of high quality Vietnamese workers in business administration, state economic management, public finance management, water resources management and environmental sanitation.
The Vietnamese State leader expressed his belief that two countries’ cooperation in the areas of seaports, construction materials, hi-tech agriculture, information technology, health and education will further grow in the time to come.
He urged Belgium to expedite the signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), set to take place in Brussels this October while asking both sides to soon finalize a new framework for expanded agricultural cooperation so as to ensure food security and climate change adaptation.
Quang praised the effective coordination between Vietnam and Belgium at international and multilateral forums, such as the United Nations, the International Organisation of La Francophonie, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and ASEAN. He wished Belgium success in its hosting of the 12th ASEM Summit slated for October this year.
For her part, Ambassador Roccas commended the positive results in the Vietnam-Belgium partnership in politics, economics, and development cooperation.
She said during her term, she visited some Vietnamese localities where Belgium’s ODA projects are carried out and witnessed their development.
She said her country will continue supporting Vietnam in the time to come and that Belgium, along with some other European nations, are looking to set up a university in Vietnam. According to her, the Free University of Brussels has offered in-country postgraduate courses in Vietnam over the last 23 years, with more than 2,200 graduates, many of whom now hold senior positions at local governmental bodies.
Belgium greatly values its ties with Vietnam, backing the country in fostering relations with the EU and the early signing of the EVFTA, she told her host.
She also assured her nation’s readiness to share experience in UN peacekeeping operations and support Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term.
