Thursday, 13/02/2020 09:41 (GMT+7)
Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the EU Vu Anh Quang highlighted the relations between Vietnam and the European Union (EU), as well as between Vietnam and Belgium, at a ceremony recently held to welcome the Lunar New Year of the Rat in Brussels.
Ambassador Vu Anh Quang delivers his speech at the event (Photo: VNA)
Speaking at the ceremony, the ambassador said that the strong development of Vietnam-EU and Vietnam-Belgium relationships is evidence of Vietnam’s increasing position on the international arena.
According to Mr. Vu Anh Quang, Vietnam is currently one of the Asia-Pacific countries with the most intensive and extensive relations with the EU, within the framework of comprehensive cooperative partnership in terms of politics, economy, trade-investment, and defence-security.
Among ASEAN member nations, Vietnam is the third country to sign a comprehensive partnership and cooperation agreement and the second to ink a free trade agreement and an investment protection agreement with the EU.
The diplomat said that Belgium is currently the 7th largest agricultural export market of Vietnam in the EU. In 2019, two-way trade exceeded 3 billion USD, of which Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of nearly 2 billion USD with Belgium.
He added that Belgian businesses have invested over 1 billion USD into Vietnam, ranking 23rd among 131 countries and territories investing in the nation.
The ambassador also highlighted Vietnam’s position and prestige in the international arena.
Vietnam has established strategic and comprehensive partnership with 30 nations and partners; is one of 15 member countries of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 period; undertakes the role of the ASEAN Chair in 2020 and is a country chosen to organize conferences to seek peace such as the 2nd US-DPRK summit./.
BTA