Vietnam and Belgium Pledge to Deepen Bilateral Ties, Expand Strategic Cooperation

Brussels, The Gulf Observer: General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee and President Tô Lâm and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening traditional friendship and expanding multifaceted cooperation between the two countries for the mutual benefit of their peoples and the promotion of global peace, stability and development.

The commitment was made during talks in Brussels on Friday, held as part of Tô Lâm’s official visit to Belgium.

Prime Minister De Wever warmly welcomed Tô Lâm and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, describing the visit as a significant political event that builds on the success of the Belgian King and Queen’s state visit to Việt Nam in April 2025 and provides fresh momentum for bilateral relations.

De Wever praised Việt Nam’s growing regional and international standing and congratulated the country on its notable socio-economic achievements. He also described Việt Nam as a priority partner for Belgium in Southeast Asia, expressing his country’s desire to expand cooperation in areas of shared strengths and interests.

Highlighting Belgium’s central position within the European Union (EU), Tô Lâm appreciated the support extended by the Belgian federal government and regional authorities for Việt Nam’s socio-economic development.

He particularly commended the Belgian Federal Parliament’s adoption of a resolution in October 2023 supporting Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange, describing it as a significant expression of friendship, solidarity and humanitarian commitment.

The two leaders welcomed the positive progress in bilateral relations, particularly following the establishment of the Strategic Partnership in Agriculture in 2018. They agreed to strengthen political trust, maintain regular exchanges and deepen mutual understanding to broaden cooperation and elevate bilateral ties to a new level.

On political, diplomatic, defence and security cooperation, both sides agreed to increase exchanges at all levels, especially high-level visits through various channels, and ensure the effective implementation of existing cooperation mechanisms and agreements.

They also emphasized stronger engagement between Vietnamese ministries, sectors and local authorities and Belgium’s federal and regional governments, with the aim of creating conditions to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership in the near future.

Defence and security cooperation was identified as a key pillar of the proposed new framework, with priorities including training, military medicine, United Nations peacekeeping operations, law enforcement cooperation and information sharing.

In the economic sphere, the leaders called for breakthroughs in trade and investment, including large-scale strategic projects in areas where Belgium has established expertise and Việt Nam has growing needs. These sectors include seaport development, smart logistics networks, green energy, eco-industrial parks and climate-resilient high-tech agriculture.

Tô Lâm encouraged major Belgian companies to expand their investments in Việt Nam, reaffirming the country’s commitment to providing a favourable, stable and secure business environment for Belgian enterprises seeking long-term opportunities.

He also called on Belgium to continue supporting Việt Nam–EU relations, help maximise the benefits of the EU–Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and urge the European Commission to lift its “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood exports over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Science and technology also featured prominently in the discussions, with both leaders recognizing substantial opportunities for collaboration in joint research, technology transfer and strategic and emerging industries.

They agreed to promote cooperation in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and semiconductors, alongside broader initiatives to strengthen innovation and technological development.

The two sides also highlighted education and training as important areas for cooperation. They agreed to expand educational links, promote cultural, sporting and tourism exchanges, and strengthen practical cooperation between local authorities.

Tô Lâm further called on Belgium to facilitate the stable living conditions and integration of the Vietnamese community through supportive legal frameworks and social welfare arrangements. He said the community could make valuable contributions to Belgian society while serving as a bridge between the two peoples.

On regional and international issues, the leaders underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability, ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight, safeguarding security and safety, and upholding multilateralism and respect for international law.

They reaffirmed support for the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Asia-Pacific region and agreed to strengthen coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums and international organisations, particularly the United Nations, the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and within the ASEAN–EU Strategic Partnership.

At the conclusion of the talks, Tô Lâm conveyed an invitation from Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng to Prime Minister De Wever to visit Việt Nam.

De Wever accepted the invitation and expressed his desire to visit the Southeast Asian country in the near future, reflecting the shared commitment of both governments to further strengthening bilateral friendship and cooperation.