During the meeting they agreed to step up the implementation of substantive measures to further develop the bilateral relations and strengthen strategic coordination in ASEAN and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (R) meets Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne (Photo: VNA)

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue had a meeting with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne in Brussels on September 9, during which they agreed to step up the implementation of substantive measures to further develop the bilateral relations and strengthen strategic coordination in ASEAN and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Pierre-Yves Dermagne congratulated the Vietnamese legislative leader on his fruitful meetings with the European Commission (EC) and the European Parliament (EP), especially the signing of a series of contracts and agreements during the two sides’ business forums and seminars.

He thanked the Vietnamese top legislator for spending time on receiving leaders of many leading Belgian businesses, thus meeting the desire to develop bilateral cooperation, especially in economics, trade and investment.

Noting that this is his first trip to Europe and several European countries as the Chairman of the Vietnamese NA, Hue affirmed that the trip’s outcomes will serve as a premise to enhance Vietnam’s comprehensive collaboration with the EU and its member states.

He stated that Vietnam attaches great importance to developing cooperation with Belgium - an important member of the EU - and wishes to strengthen the ties in all fields and via various channels.

Overview of the meeting.

Hue proposed the two sides maintain successful cooperation at the UN Security Council and UN agencies, and support the early ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), which is expected to help promote investment, and create favourable conditions for enterprises to exploit cooperation potential in the fields of energy, renewable energy, and seaports.

Regarding agriculture, he emphasized the need to implement strategic cooperation contents agreed by the two ministers of agriculture, such as the import and export of fruits and agricultural products with high quality and clear origin, the facilitation of the removal of the EC’s “yellow card” on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing to ensure the livelihoods and life of Vietnamese people, and the maintenance of the supply of exports to the EU to serve its people.

The Vietnamese NA Chairman thanked the Belgian Government for providing 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine for Vietnam and suggested Belgium maintain support through the COVAX mechanism, giving priority to Vietnam in vaccine access and transferring redundant vaccines to Vietnam.

The Belgian Deputy PM took note of the guest’s proposals and wished that Vietnam will support large infrastructure projects invested by Belgium, thereby contributing to Vietnam's development strategy.

He affirmed to support strategic cooperation in the agricultural field to open up new orientations for agricultural products as well as assisting research in this area.

NA Chairman holds talks with leader of Belgium's Chamber of Representatives

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue holds talks with President of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium Éliane Tillieux in Brussels on September 9.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with President of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium Éliane Tillieux in Brussels on September 9.

NA Chairman Hue said that his visit, the first paid by a high-ranking leader of Vietnam to Europe after the country perfected the leadership structure for the new tenure, aims to affirm the country’s hope to work with Belgium and the EU to lift the Vietnam-EU comprehensive partnership and all-round ties between Vietnam and Belgium to a new height.

He underlined that Vietnam highly values its relationship with Belgium in all fields, including cooperation through the Party channel and people-to-people exchange. Vietnam is willing to help connect the EU and Belgium with ASEAN, he stated, adding that Vietnam hopes to increase exchanges of high-ranking delegations with Belgium after COVID-19 is controlled.

He also took the occasion to invite the Belgian President of Chamber Representatives and President of the Senate to visit Vietnam in a suitable time.

He thanked Belgium for supporting the ratification of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), noting that one year after the deal took effect, trade between Vietnam and the EU has risen impressively at 18 percent.

The Vietnamese NA has adopted the revised Labour Code and a roadmap to join basic conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), he said, proposing Belgium ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement soon.

He suggested that Belgium support the EU’ removing of a yellow card on Vietnam fisheries sector, while cooperating with Vietnam in climate change response.

The Vietnamese NA leader expressed his hope that Vietnamese and Belgium legislative bodies will set up a cooperation framework to share experience in parliamentary activities as well as foster bilateral and multilateral collaboration.

He thanked Belgium for donating 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam, expressing hope that Belgium will continue to support Vietnam in accessing more vaccine sources through COVAX mechanism.

For his part, Éliane Tillieux said that Belgium is willing to assist and cooperate other countries, including Vietnam, in COVID-19 control.

She agreed with Hue on the need to foster cooperation between the two legislative bodies, friendship parliamentary groups, sectors as well as people-to-people exchange. The International Francophone Organisation, to which Vietnam and Belgium are members, is also a good channel for both sides to bolster bilateral partnership, she said.

She said that the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium will consider the EVIPA in the time to come, suggesting that partnership between the friendship parliamentary groups of both sides is also an effective channel to help promote the ratification process of the deal.

NA Chairman hosts European business leaders on visit to Belgium

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue hosted several business leaders of European corporations in Brussels on September 9 (local time) while he was on a working visit to Belgium.

They are from wind farm developers Deme Group from Belgium and Ørsted from Denmark, and the Netherlands’ GC International.

Deme Group is a renowned global player in dredging and land reclamation, solutions for the offshore energy market, infra marine and environmental works. The group has constructed a number of major infrastructure projects in Vietnam and is cooperating with Vietsovpetro company to develop the Vinh Phong offshore wind power project in the south central province of Binh Thuan.

Hue highly spoke of what Deme Group has been doing in Vietnam and welcomed their intention to further invest in the renewable energy in the country.

Vietnam has huge potential in the field and been doubling efforts to increase the generation of clean energy in the future, he said, adding that investment in the sector must go in line with the national power development plan over the next 10 years, with a vision towards 2045 which Vietnam has been crafting.

The Vietnamese NA will review and take into consideration amendments of existing laws to remove legal barriers, if any, for foreign investors and facilitate them to do business in Vietnam, he emphasized.

Receiving representatives from Ørsted, the developer of 27 wind farm projects globally, the top legislator welcomed the group’s plan to form an alliance with Vietnam’s T&T Group to build offshore wind farms in the Southeast Asian country.

He noted that the Danish firm should work with the Vietnamese Ministries of Industry and Trade, Planning and Investment; and Environment and Natural Resources to get updates about conditions for running wind farms in Vietnam and the country’s master plan for the sector.

While meeting with leaders from GC International, NA Chairman Hue highly valued its idea to develop an erosion prevention system based on artificial islands in Hoi An ancient town, the south central province of Quang Nam. He asked the group to cooperate with Vietnamese companies in the project and coordinate with relevant ministries and local administrations to ensure the project is carried out in accordance with the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment./.

NA Chairman meets leader of Workers' Party of Belgium

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue had a meeting with Peter Mertens, President of the Workers' Party of Belgium (PTB) in Brussels before leaving for Finland to continue his Europe trip.

The top Vietnamese legislator briefed the PTB leader on the outcomes of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the completion of the country’s leadership apparatus, as well as the socio-economic situation of Vietnam and the results of his working sessions with the European Council (EC) and European Parliament (EP).

He thanked the PTB for supporting Vietnam during the past struggle for national liberation and reunification and the current cause of national construction, expressing his hope that the party will continue to back Vietnam, especially in hastening the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement by the Belgian Parliament and the European Commission’s removal of a yellow card on Vietnam's fisheries products.

For his part, Mertens congratulated Vietnam on the success of the 13th National Party Congress and its new leaders and extended his best regards to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

He affirmed the PTB support for Vietnamese people and pledged to continue to stand for Vietnam during discussions at the Belgian Parliament and the EP.

Both sides agreed to continue to maintain meetings and strengthen cooperation through party channel in parallel with the State, parliament and people-to-people exchange channels./.

Source: VNA