Viet Nam urges Belgium to ratify EVIPA this year

The meeting took place on the occasion of the Vietnamese official's attendance at the 2nd Global Gateway Forum in Brussels from October 9-10.

At the meeting, Bui suggested Belgium support Viet Nam in developing its maritime economy, including promoting sustainable fisheries, and raise voice to urge the European Commission (EC) to lift the "yellow card" on Vietnamese seafood exports.

The Deputy Prime Minister recommended Belgium grant visa exemptions to holders of Vietnamese diplomatic and official passports.

The guest expressed his gratitude to the Belgian House of Representatives, the first foreign parliament adopting a resolution in advocate of Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange.

Roover, for his part, vowed to strengthen exchanges between specialized committees and young parliamentarians of the two countries' legislatures, enhance the role of parliamentary friendship groups, and increase coordination at regional and global inter-parliamentary forums such as the IPU, APPF, ASEP, and AIPA. Belgium attaches great importance to promoting multifaceted cooperation with Viet Nam in areas such as trade and investment, high-tech agriculture, smart ports and logistics, and climate change, underlined the legislator.

He proposed that both sides carry out specific projects providing aid to Viet Nam in overcoming the consequences of war, particularly in detoxifying contaminated areas, restoring ecosystems, and supporting victims of Agent Orange.

Both sides reaffirmed their determination to fostering stronger ties in developing circular and smart agricultural economic models, as well as in implementing solutions to address saltwater intrusion and drought, particularly in the Mekong Delta region, thereby contributing to accelerating Viet Nam's green transition and sustainable development./.