Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh praised the positive developments in Vietnam - Belgium relations in recent years, highlighting the highly successful State visit to Vietnam by the King and Queen of Belgium in April 2025, as well as the effective and substantive implementation of the Strategic Partnership in Agriculture framework.

Affirming that Vietnam regards Belgium as an important partner within the European Union (EU), the Prime Minister proposed that the two sides continue to consolidate political trust through enhanced exchanges of delegations at all levels and across all channels, improve the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and closely coordinate at international forums and organizations.

He also called for maintaining and further promoting cooperation in traditional areas such as defense and security, culture, education and training, climate change response and tourism, while expanding collaboration into strategic sectors including science and technology, semiconductor chips and transport infrastructure.

On economic cooperation, the Prime Minister urged Belgium to soon ratify the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and to voice support for the European Commission (EC) in lifting the “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood under the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing framework. He encouraged Belgian enterprises to increase investment in Vietnam and called on Belgium to continue providing non-refundable development assistance, particularly for projects in education and training, vocational training, healthcare, environmental protection and war consequence remediation.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister reiterated his appreciation to the Belgian Chamber of Representatives for adopting a Resolution in support of Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange in October 2023, contributing to greater international backing on the issue. He also commended Belgium’s attention to environmental clean-up and decontamination projects, as well as to socio-economic development and infrastructure initiatives in localities across Vietnam.

Ambassador Karl Van Den Bossche affirmed that Belgium considers Vietnam a priority partner in the region and stands ready to accompany Vietnam in achieving its socio-economic development goals, including efforts to address the consequences of war. He noted that Belgium is the only country to have adopted a Resolution supporting victims of Agent Orange and pledged continued assistance in environmental decontamination and support for affected individuals.

The Ambassador also expressed his strong impression of the organization and outcomes of the 14th National Congress, particularly Vietnam’s historic achievements in recent years and its development objectives for the period ahead. Welcoming Vietnam’s upgrade of relations with the EU to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, thereby enhancing cooperation with EU member states including Belgium, he agreed that both sides should deepen collaboration in traditional areas and expand into sectors where Belgium has strengths and Vietnam has demand, with a view to advancing the relationship in a more substantive and effective manner.

Ambassador Karl Van Den Bossche also conveyed his appreciation for the close guidance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the active coordination of Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities in implementing activities and projects that have helped promote multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium.