King Philippe's Viet Nam visit to usher in new era of relations
VGP - The state visit of Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde to Viet Nam is set to mark a historic milestone and open up a new chapter in the two nations' relations.
Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang
Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang made the above statement at a press briefing ahead of the state visit.
The visit is expected to boost political trust and expand collaboration in key areas, notably trade, investment, and agriculture, she said.
It will reinforce the Viet Nam-Belgium Strategic Partnership in Agriculture, established in 2018, while advancing cooperation in education, science-technology, and cultural exchanges.
The Belgian royal delegation comprises 34 CEOs from prominent Belgian and EU corporations specialising in logistics, maritime services, energy transition, healthcare, and food.
Additionally, 16 academic leaders from top Belgian universities and research institutions will accompany the Belgian King and Queen, underscoring Belgium's ambition to deepen existing partnerships and identify new cooperation opportunities in Viet Nam.
Viet Nam and Belgium formulated diplomatic relations in 1973 and launched a strategic partnership framework in agriculture in 2018. In recent years, bilateral ties have flourished across multiple sectors.
In political and diplomatic spheres, the two countries have maintained mutual trust through regular high-level visits, efficient cooperation mechanisms, and close coordination in multilateral forums.
In economic front, Belgium is Viet Nam's sixth-largest export market in Europe, while Viet Nam is Belgium's top trading partner in ASEAN. Bilateral trade reached US$4.45 billion in 2024. Belgium currently has 100 investment projects in Viet Nam with total registered capital of US$1.1 billion, spanning transport, logistics, and renewable energy sectors.
As strategic partners in agriculture, the two countries have implemented various technical cooperation programs, linking agricultural universities and research institutes. Both sides also collaborated to develop a waterway logistics network to boost Viet Nam's agricultural exports to Europe, promote smart cold chain logistics, and enhance cacao industry development and food safety standards./.
