Vietnam, Belgium to Expend Ties to Economic Cooperation
Vietnam and Belgium should develop cooperation in economic, trade and investment issues in the coming time, said Chairman of the Parliament of Brussels Eric Tomas to Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) chairman Nguyen Van An at a meeting yesterday in Hanoi.
“Vietnam and Belgium have already enjoyed good relations in culture and education, but now it is time to expend relations to the economy and trade” Eric noted with An.
He said the tour focuses on measures to boost cooperation between the two countries and also between Brussels and Hanoi in the future.
He affirmed that Belgium will continue its support for Vietnam, including assistance for the country after it officially joins the World Trade Organization (WTO).
On the same day, Tomas met with Chairman of NA’s Minority Committee Trang A Pao and Deputy Chief of NA’s External Committee.
This is the second trip the Belgian parliamentary leader has made to Vietnam. In March last year, An paid a visit to Belgium to boost economic cooperation.
Vietnam and Belgium established diplomatic relation in 1973. Belgium is now the fifth biggest EU trade partner of Vietnam, the trade turn-over in 2004 was $640 million.
To date, Belgium has invested in 25 projects in Vietnam with registered capital of $74.7 million and the disbursed revenue of $60.7 million, according to the Vietnamese Investment and Planning Ministry.
Liberated Saigon, The People
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