Brussels (VNA) - Vietnam and Belgium have agreed to further strengthen parliamentary cooperation and deepen bilateral relations as Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for National Defence, Security and Foreign Affairs Senior Lieutenant General Le Tan Toi paid a courtesy call on First Vice President of the Belgian Senate Andries Gryffroy on July 10 as part of his working trip to the European nation.

At the meeting, Toi described Belgium as a trusted partner of Vietnam in Europe and an important member of the European Union (EU), affirming that Vietnam consistently attaches importance to its friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Belgium, including parliamentary ties.

The Vietnamese official noted that the bilateral relations have continued to flourish since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1973 through regular exchanges of high-level delegations and close coordination at multilateral forums. The State visit to Vietnam by the King and Queen of Belgium in April 2025 injected fresh momentum into the bilateral ties, he said.

Toi also welcomed the Belgian Chamber of Representatives' adoption of a resolution in October 2023 supporting Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, describing it as a humanitarian gesture that reflected Belgium's goodwill and solidarity with Vietnam.

Regarding economic cooperation, Toi said the trade and investment cooperation still have considerable room for growth, particularly in sectors where Belgium has strengths and Vietnam has demand, including seaports, logistics, high-tech agriculture, food safety, science and technology, semiconductors, clean energy, environmental technology and green finance.

For parliamentary cooperation, the Vietnamese official informed the Belgian side that the 16th NA has established the Vietnam-Belgium Parliamentary Friendship Group. He proposed stepping up exchanges of delegations at all levels, enhancing cooperation between specialised committees, and sharing legislative and oversight experience in national defence and security, non-traditional security, cybersecurity, combating transnational crime, coping with climate change, and addressing post-war consequences.

He called on the Belgian Senate to continue supporting stronger Vietnam-EU relations, including the effective implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and promoting the European Commission's early removal of its "yellow card" warning against Vietnamese seafood exports, in recognition of Vietnam's efforts to improve its legal framework and promote sustainable fisheries management.

Toi also expressed his hope that Belgian legislative bodies will continue safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the Vietnamese community in Belgium in terms of residence, employment and education, enabling them to continue serving as a bridge of friendship between the two countries.

For his part, Gryffroy, who has maintained close ties with Vietnam over many years as President of the Belgian Vietnamese Alliance, expressed his support for the Vietnamese side's proposals and reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthening friendship and bilateral cooperation. Belgium and Vietnam have significant potential to expand cooperation across sectors, he said, adding that the Belgian side’s recent visits to Vietnam had yielded positive results.

The meeting was a key highlight of the Vietnamese delegation's working visit to Belgium, helping strengthen political trust and mutual understanding between the two legislatures, while further advancing Vietnam-Belgium relations and Vietnam-EU cooperation./.