Celebrating 30 Years of Cooperation between Belgium – Vietnam

On September 29, in Ho Chi Minh City, a press conference celebrating 30 years of cooperation between Belgium - Vietnam was held by the Belgian Embassy in Hanoi, the Belgian Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, the Belgian - Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam.

 

Vietnam - Belgium relation was established since 1973. During thirty years, the bilateral cooperation has been closely linked to the remarkable social and economic development of Vietnam. Over the years the relations between two countries have intensified and expanded. It has been marked by the many visits of senior officials from both countries and by the increasing activities of private partners such as Belgian investors, NGOs, universities, research centres as well as the active participation of the Regions, the Communities and provincial and local authorities.

 

Mr Hubert Cooreman, the Belgian Ambassador said, “Vietnam will assume the Presidency of ASEAN in January 2010, Belgium will assume the Presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2010. This gives both countries an excellent opportunity to move forward in handling the international problems of our time and to press for lasting and durable solutions. In October 2010, Belgium will host in Brussels the 8th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of Asia and Europe. 47 Asian and European leaders will gather to find ways to improve our cooperation. I hope that during this Summit we will be able to sign the new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Vietnam and the European Union that will add a new dimension to our relationship. The Belgo-Vietnamese Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation will meet next year to define a new framework for our bilateral cooperation. This will be a decisive moment to transform our cooperation into a long lasting broad based partnership that includes a multitude of actors”.