Belgium to have projects to support Vietnam in Agent Orange/Dioxin contamination clean-up
Belgium will soon have projects to support Vietnam in Agent Orange/Dioxin contamination clean-up, President of the Belgian Senate Stephanie D'Hose said when receiving Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in Brussel, adding that Belgium will back the European Parliament (EP) on passing a resolution and taking actions to support Vietnam in this regard.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son meets with President of the Belgian Senate Stephanie D'Hose. (Photo: VNA)
Brussels (VNA) – Belgium willsoon have projects to support Vietnam in Agent Orange/Dioxin contaminationclean-up, President of the B♕elgian Senate Stephanie D'Hosesaid when receiving Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in Brussel, adding that Belgium will back the European Parliament (EP) on passing a resolution and taking actions to supp🐭ort Vietnam in this regard.
The Senate leader hailed the significance of FM Son's working visit to Belgium fromJanuary 31 to February 1, which was the first Foreign Minister-level visitbetween the two countries in the past 12 years and in the context that the twocountries have just celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment oftheir diplomatic relations and the 5th anniversary of their Strategic Partnershipon Agriculture in 2023. At the reception, the Belgium official agreedthe Vietnamese National Assembly and the Belgian Federal Parliament will soonsign a cooperation agreement, and welcomed the two legislatures’ cooperation atregional and global inter-parliamentary forums. Meanwhile, President of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium Éliane Tillieux affirmed that the chamber's passing a resolution calling for support for AO victims is a strong message to the international community to support Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of AO. She added that to implement the resolution, she will call on experienced Belgian businesses to participate in detoxification projects in Vietnam. During the meetings with the Belgian legislative leaders, FM Son affirmed that Vietnam always hopes to strengthen friendship relations and cooperation with Belgium across the fields. He appreciated the attention of the Belgian parliament and the Belgium-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group to promote the multi-faceted cooperation with the Vietnamese NA.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son meets with President of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium Éliane Tillieux. (Photo: VNA)
He thanked the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium for being the first legislative body in the world to pass the resolution calling for support for AO victims, thereby drawing the international community's attention and support for tackling war consequences in Vietnam. Son also urged the Belgian FederalParliament to soon ratify the EU -Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA)to maximise the potential of cooperation between the two countries in thefield of investment; and push for the European Commission (EC)'s early removal of the“yellow card” on Vietnam. Holding talks with Belgium’s Minister ofForeign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal CulturalInstitutions Hadja Lahbib, the Vietnamese minister affirmed that Vietnam alwaystreasures relations with Belgium - an important partner in the EU, and wishesto further promote Vietnam - Belgium relations, especially the strategicpartnership on agriculture. Son appreciated Belgium's active role as the rotating President of the Council of the EU in the first six months of 2024, asking for Belgium’s coordination to promote EU-Vietnam relations, and affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to connect Belgium with ASEAN and Southeast Asian countries. He urged Belgium to early ratify the EVIPA and push for the early removal of the EC's yellow card on Vietnam's aquatic goods to further facilitate Vietnam-Belgium investment and trade ties.
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son holds talks with Belgium’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions Hadja Lahbib. (Photo: VNA)
Lahbib affirmed that agriculture is a pillar in the two countries’ cooperation, adding that Belgium is considering building an agricultural cooperation programme between Vietnam and Belgian regions. Belgium can support Vietnam in developing circular agricultural models, smart agriculture, and responding to climate change, she said. The minister also called on the Vietnamese Government to create favourable conditions for Belgian businesses to expand investment and business in Vietnam, especially in high-tech and energy transition industries. The two ministers agreed to continue promoting contacts and exchange of delegationsbetween the two sides, especially senior leaders on State, Government and NAchannels. Assessing economic cooperation as an importantpillar in Vietnam - Belgium relations, the two ministers welcomed businessesfrom both sides to promote cooperation in new fields such as high technology,semiconductor chips, and energy transition, hoping that the two countries willmake good use of the opportunities that the EVFTA brings. The two ministers agreed to havecooperation projects to implement the Belgian lower house's resolution on supporting Vietnam inovercoming war consequences, especially detoxifying areas affected by AOand supporting AO victims. The two sides also discussed regional andinternational issues of mutual concern, affirming to continue to coordinateclosely and support each other at multilateral organisations and forums, especiallythe United Nations and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and promote theASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership framework./.
Deputy Director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Le Hoang Tai and Pascale Delcomminette, CEO of Belgium’s Wallonia Foreign Trade and Investment Agency (AWEX), on November 27 signed a letter of intent (LOI) to initiate cooperation in trade promotion between the two sides.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and relevant ministries and sectors of Vietnam are ready to work with the Belgian side to effectively support cooperation activities between the two countries’ enterprises, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien told a bilateral business forum in Brussels on December 1.
Joining their peers across the world in welcoming the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year of the Dragon, Vietnamese expats in Belgium have joyfully prepared for event - the biggest and most important traditional festival of Vietnamese people in a year.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son is in Brussels for the 24th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) and the third EU-Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (EU-IPMF) as well as a visit to Belgium from January 30 to February 3.
Ha expressed his hope that cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, and natural resources would emerge as new focal points and engines of growth in Vietnam–China relations.
Giang said he believes that building on the solid foundation nurtured over the past half-century and the strong determination of both nations, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to grow in a more robust, comprehensive, and extensive manner, thus bringing more practical benefits to the two nations' people.
Highlighting the transformative potential of the draft law in revitalising Vietnam’s railway industry, Hoang Van Cuong, a deputy of Hanoi, expressed his support for Article 39, which empowers the Prime Minister to issue a list of railway-related goods and services to be assigned or ordered from domestic enterprises for production.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, Hoan, formerly Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, is under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in connection with a case involving the Hoang Long Construction and Manpower Supply JSC and related units.
Chairing a national conference on the organisation of the examination on June 18, the PM highlighted the historical significance of the examination, as the restructuring of provincial-level administrative units is underway and the two-tier local administration model is set to officially begin operations on July 1.
Right on the same day, the ministry issued its highest-level travel warning, urging Vietnamese citizens not to travel to Israel or Iran, and advised those already in these countries to swiftly consider evacuation or relocation plans.
From the struggles against colonialists and imperialists to the period of Doi moi (renewal) and international integration, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has always played a pioneering role on the ideological and cultural front, he said.
The Party leader's working session with the standing boards of the Party Committees of HCM City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong, the VNA General Director's remarks on the occasion of the 19th OANA General Assembly, the launch of new NIC - Google initiatives aimed at bolstering AI entrepreneurship and digital literacy in Vietnam are among news highlights June 18.
Vietnam and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism as it remains a threat to peace, security, and stability across their respective nations, the broader region, and the international community.
The Vietnamese representative also emphasised the shared responsibility of relevant parties to build trust, enhance cooperation, and jointly manage the risks of conflict, thus safeguarding long-term peace and stability in the East Sea.
The National Assembly on June 18 passed the law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality, with 408 out of 420 participating deputies voting in favour, accounting for 85.36% of the total.
The Party leader asked the new HCM City to embrace a multi-centre and integrated urban ecosystem where each development pole functions as a link complementary to and intelligently connected with each other in a harmonious whole.
The resolutions issued by the PM as well as ministries and ministry-level agencies reassign responsibility for 346 administrative procedures - 18 from district to provincial levels, 278 to commune level, and 50 eliminated.
Legislators are due to pass several amended laws, including the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy, and the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality.
Vietnamese localities' readiness to implement the two-tier local administration model, the evacuation of 18 Vietnamese citizens from Iran, Petrovietnam's 11th ranking in the 2025 Fortune Southeast Asia 500 are among news highlights on June 17 evening.
The General Secretary underlined the resolve to achieve a growth rate of at least 8% in 2025, laying the groundwork for double-digit growth in the following period. He noted that these are mandatory targets, with no alternative path to success.
Restructuring and improving the quality of officials, civil servants, and public employees is no longer a choice, but an urgent requirement to transition from administrative management to governance in service of the people.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has advised Vietnamese people living there to proactively prepare and seek ways to leave the country via land border crossings, especially toward Jordan or Egypt, when security and safety conditions allow.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son meets with President of the Belgian Senate Stephanie D'Hose. (Photo: VNA) 
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son meets with President of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium Éliane Tillieux. (Photo: VNA) 
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son holds talks with Belgium’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions Hadja Lahbib. (Photo: VNA) 
