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| Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde welcomed at Nội Bài International Airport on Monday. VNA/VNS Photo |
HÀ NỘI – Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrived in Hà Nội on Monday early morning, beginning their five-day state visit to Việt Nam at the invitation of State President Lương Cường and his spouse.
The delegation was welcome at the Nội Bài International Airport by Vice Chairwoman of the State President’s Office Phan Thị Kim Oanh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Thị Thu Hằng, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyễn Văn Thảo.
This visit, the first of its kind in over five decades since diplomatic ties were established, takes place in the context of Việt Nam is entering a new phase of development, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Thị Thu Hằng said in an interview with the press on the trip and the relations between the two countries.
According to the diplomat, the visit reflects King Philippe and Queen Mathilde's deep affection for Việt Nam. While this is their first visit in an official capacity, it is also a meaningful return to a country where they have fond memories from previous visits.
It underscores Việt Nam's steadfast foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and proactive international integration. It also reaffirms Việt Nam's commitment to strengthening ties with Belgium, a key partner within the European Union.
The visit is expected to boost political trust and expand collaboration in key areas, notably trade, investment, and agriculture. It will reinforce the Việt Nam-Belgium Strategic Partnership in Agriculture, established in 2018, while advancing cooperation in education, science-technology, and cultural exchanges.
Việt Nam and Belgium established 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 consistently demonstrated mutual trust through regular high-level visits, efficient cooperation mechanisms, and close coordination in multilateral forums.
Notably, in October 2023, Belgium's Chamber of Representatives became the first European parliamentary body to pass a resolution supporting Vietnamese Agent Orange victims. This landmark resolution reflects Belgium's strong friendship with Việt Nam and raises international awareness of the ongoing challenges faced by these victims.
In economic relations, Belgium is Việt Nam's sixth-largest export market in Europe, while Việt Nam is Belgium's top ASEAN trading partner. Bilateral trade in 2024 reached US$4.45 billion, and Belgium currently has 100 investment projects in Việt Nam, valued at $1.1 billion, spanning transport, logistics, and renewable energy sectors.
Hằng expressed her optimism that the upcoming visit by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will be a significant success, delivering positive outcomes that further cement bilateral cooperation. The visit is expected to open a new chapter in Việt Nam-Belgium relations, fulfilling the aspirations of both peoples and contributing to regional and global peace, stability, and development.
Meanwhile, Belgian Ambassador to Việt Nam Karl Van den Bossche told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) that the visit reaffirms Vietnam’s role as a trusted and stable partner amid global uncertainties and underscores the need for close collaboration among Belgium, Việt Nam, ASEAN, and the European Union (EU) to strengthen regional ties.
Reflecting on the journey of bilateral ties, he said since establishing diplomatic ties on March 22, 1973, Belgium has been one of the first western countries to sign a development cooperation agreement with Việt Nam.
Over time, this partnership has evolved from development cooperation to an equal, mutually beneficial collaboration addressing global challenges, spanning agriculture, culture, education, climate change response, energy development, and green logistics. VNS
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