Belgium vows to accelerate EVFTA signing

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (L) and President of the Belgian Senate Jacques Brotchi, Brussels, April 4, 2019

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hosted a reception for President of the Belgian Senate Jacques Brotchi on April 4 in Brussels.

Senate Jacques Brotchi expressed his good impression of Viet Nam. He praised the fruitful development of the Belgium-Viet Nam relations, especially in university-level education and economic linkages.

The NA Chairwoman revealed that during the visit, the Vietnamese delegation hopes to maintain and further bolster comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in general, and their legislative bodies in particular.

The top legislator took the occasion to brief her host on Viet Nam’s socio-economic development with 7.98% economic growth rate, and the country’s efforts in realizing the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially in promoting gender equality, poverty reduction, healthcare, and education.

Viet Nam is working to realize the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) towards 2030, she said, adding that Viet Nam has issued its National Action Plan to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Investors can feel secure investing and doing business in Viet Nam due to its stable politics and society, she stressed.

According to Ms. Ngan, Viet Nam has trade ties with about 200 countries and territories worldwide. European countries, including Belgium, are big markets of Viet Nam. In 2018, two-way trade between Viet Nam and Belgium hit US$2.8 billion. Belgian enterprises operating in Viet Nam have recorded strong development in recent years.

While appreciating the health cooperation-related proposals of Belgian Senate President Brotchi, NA Chairwoman Ngan said she will convey the information to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health for consideration.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed issues concerning the acceleration of signing and approval of the European Union (EU)-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

The Vietnamese top legislator mentioned the benefits of both sides in promoting EVFTA, while suggesting the Senate President support and promote the signing of the trade pact soon, towards realizing benefits brought by the agreement to Viet Nam, Belgium, and the EU.

Viet Nam has been implementing recommendations from the EU and the European Parliament, Ngan said, adding that the parties concerned had open and straightforward dialogues.

For his part, Mr. Brotchi spoke of Viet Nam’s endeavors in the work and affirmed his support for the EVFTA, saying that he will contribute to promoting the signing and ratification of the agreement.