The great geographical distance was unable to prevent the growth of the sincere bond between Vietnam and Luxembourg over the past nearly half a century. Such a sentiment is reflected in the warm reception extended by Luxembourg friends to the Vietnamese delegation. After the formal welcome ceremony hosted by Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel at Place de Clairefontaine, the two countries’ heads of government held talks.

In an open, sincere and trusted atmosphere of the talks, the two Prime Minister comprehensively discussed the socio-economic development situation in each country, the bilateral cooperation and regional and international issues of shared interest. The two sides agreed to promote the early establishment of a strategic partnership framework on green finance to tap into Luxembourg’s strength in investment capital, especially green finance, to help Vietnam implement its national strategy on green growth and climate change response efforts.

On economic cooperation, the two Prime Ministers asked agencies and enterprises of the two countries to continue implementing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) fully and effectively, promote logistics connection, establish systems of bonded warehouses in each country to foster trade and act as gateways to the EU and ASEAN markets, and promote the signing of a double taxation avoidance agreement.

The PM asked the Luxembourg government to facilitate Vietnamese goods in accessing the Luxembourg and EU markets, while encouraging Luxembourg companies to increase investment in Vietnam. The Vietnamese leader also asked Luxembourg to support Vietnam in building an international financial centre in Ho Chi Minh City, encourage other EU countries to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, and support the removal of the European Commission’s IUU yellow card on Vietnamese fishery products.

The Luxembourg PM affirmed the country’s willingness to promote cooperation and support Vietnam in the fields of circular economy, banking, securities, and climate finance, especially by making cooperation in green finance, a strength of Luxembourg, a pillar of bilateral cooperation.

Meeting with President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg Fernand Etgen, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to the role and position of Luxembourg in the European Union (EU), and wishes to further promote the comprehensive partnership between the two countries, including between the two law-making bodies.

Looking back over the past 50 years of cooperation, the two sides were pleased to see that the time-honoured friendship and cooperation between the two countries are developing well in many fields. In the spirit of building, trust and mutual understanding, the two sides held extensive, comprehensive and substantive discussion and reached a general consensus on many specific measures to promote the development of Vietnam-Luxembourg relations towards being commensurate with the potential and advantages of the two countries.

The President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg affirmed that the visit by the Vietnamese PM is a significant milestone helping to bolster cooperation between Luxembourg and Vietnam in all aspects, in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

Trade cooperation is an important highlight in bilateral relations. While attending the Vietnam-Luxembourg Business Forum, PM Pham Minh Chinh emphasised that in order to create favourable conditions for European investors, especially those from Luxembourg, the Vietnamese Government always strives to improve the business and investment environment by reducing and simplifying administrative procedures and working together in the spirit of harmonious benefits and shared difficulties. At the Forum, the PM and officials of the two sides witnessed the signing ceremony and handed over cooperation agreements between agencies and businesses of the two sides.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands took place on the eve of 2023, when Vietnam and the Netherlands will celebrate half a century of diplomatic relations. This provides an important premise to open a new, more effective and deeper development phase in the relationship between the two countries.

In the open, sincere, reliable and frank atmosphere of the talks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutt expressed their delight at the positive developments from the comprehensive partnership in recent time. The two PMs agreed to continue effectively implementing the EVFTA, jointly promoting the two countries as transhipment hubs of the two regions. The Vietnamese PM encouraged Dutch businesses to step up investment in the fields they are strong at in Vietnam such as seaport, shipbuilding, logistics, and infrastructure connectivity; support the European Commission’s removal of its IUU “yellow card” warning against Vietnam’s aquatic product exports...

The two leaders agreed to step up and deepen Vietnam-Netherlands cooperation within the framework of the Strategic Partnership on Climate Change Adaptation and the Strategic Partnership on Sustainable Agriculture. The Netherlands is ready to share experience, knowledge, technology and preferential loans to help Vietnam develop sustainable agriculture, logistics systems, green transformation, biodiversity protection, and water management.

Parliamentary cooperation is a positive bright spot in Vietnam-Netherlands relations. During a meeting with President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands Jan Anthonie Bruijn and Vera Bergkamp, PM Pham Minh Chinh suggested that the Dutch parliament soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA); support the European Commission (EC) to soon remove the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) 'yellow card' warning on Vietnamese seafood; and encourage enterprises of the Netherlands to pour more investment into Vietnam in digital transformation, green transformation, food and energy security, and climate change response. He proposed that the Dutch parliament consider establishing a Netherlands – Vietnam friendship parliamentarian group to strengthen trust and understanding between the two legislative bodies.

The Vietnam-Netherlands Business Forum was a highlight of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to the Netherlands. Attending the forum, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that in 50 years of cooperation, both Vietnam and the Netherlands have achieved great progress. From an agricultural country, the Netherlands has sped up industrialisation and urbanisation and is now fostering the development of innovation and smart cities. Meanwhile, Vietnam experienced wars and embargoes, and carried out the country’s Doi Moi (Renewal) process.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister affirmed that following a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification, Vietnam is a good friend, reliable partner and active and responsible member of the international community. Vietnam is building an independent, self-reliant economy in combination with extensive substantive, and effective international integration. At the same time, the country has well maintained political stability, social order and safety, a peaceful environment, as well as friendly relationships with countries around the world. These are solid foundations for Dutch investors to continue investing in Vietnam, he asserted.

The Vietnamese Government leader suggested foreign businesses and partners, including those from the Netherlands, support Vietnam with capital for investment in development as well as in technology transfer and experience sharing, along with high-quality human resources training. On the cooperation principle of "harmonious benefits, shared risks", and "harmonisation of interests between people, businesses and the State", Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked Dutch investors to understand the Vietnamese Party and State’s policies to invest or expand investment in the nation.

At the Vietnam-Netherlands Business Forum, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates witnessed the signing of cooperation documents between Vietnamese and Dutch businesses and partners.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Belgium is an important occasion for Vietnam and Belgium to strengthen their bilateral ties, especially in the context when the two countries are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and the five-year implementation of their strategic partnership in agriculture in 2023.

The focus of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Belgium was his talks between his Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo, during which the Vietnamese Government leader stressed that Vietnam always considers Belgium a partner of leading importance in the European Union.

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo emphasised that Belgium attaches importance to Vietnam’s role and position in the Asia-Pacific region. He stressed that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit is of great significance as it contributes to taking the bilateral relationship into a new development period and making it more intensive, practical and effective, especially regarding trade and investment.

In an atmosphere of friendship, sincerity and frankness, the two leaders agreed on directions and measures to comprehensively promote cooperation between the two countries, especially deepening cooperation within the framework of the strategic partnership on agriculture as well as strengthen cooperation in investment, trade and other potential fields. The two sides also agreed to boost the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high-level, and continue to effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

In terms of economic and trade cooperation, the two PMs encouraged the agencies and businesses from the two countries to continue the full and effective implementation of the EVFTA. PM Pham Minh Chinh asked Belgium to soon complete the ratification process of EVIPA while calling for Belgian businesses to invest in the areas of strengths such as digital transformation and renewable energy.

Regarding the strategic partnership on agriculture, the two sides recorded the positive results in the first five years of implementation. PM Pham Minh Chinh requested Belgium to support Vietnam in the development of the circular agricultural economic model and smart agriculture; measures to respond to saltwater intrusion and drought in the Mekong River Delta; the implementation of the National Strategy on green growth during 2021-2030 period towards sustainable development, environmental friendliness and climate change adaptation. Belgium also supported the two sides’ strong and effective implementation of strategic partnership on agriculture while proposing the establishment of a joint working group towards soon making specific cooperation projects.

The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in the fields of defence-security, education-training and culture between the two countries. The two PMs witnessed the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreements between the ministries, agencies, localities and businesses between the two countries.

During his official visit, PM Pham Minh Chinh met with President of the Chamber of Representatives, President of the Belgian Senate, President of the Workers' Party and Princess of Belgium as well as hosted a reception for leaders of Belgian businesses.

At the Vietnam-Belgium Business Forum, the Government leader asked enterprises from Belgium and Europe to continue diversifying their products, markets and supply chains to boost the effective and sustainable production and business in Vietnam. He also hoped that the businesses will promote their investment and called on more investment into Vietnam.

During his busy trip, PM Pham Minh Chinh took time to meet with representatives of Overseas Vietnamese in Belgium and several European countries. At the meeting, on behalf of leaders of Vietnamese Party and State and for his part, the Government leader extended his greetings of health and happiness to the participants at the meeting as well as Vietnamese expatriates in Belgium and Europe.

PM Pham Minh Chinh said there are about 5 million Vietnamese people living in more than 130 countries around the world. Most of whom are successful people who can assert their position and are respected by the local authorities. The PM affirmed that they are a source of pride and a priceless asset of our nation. According to the PM, the overseas Vietnamese community has contributed to promoting the image of Vietnam abroad and enhancing the role, position and prestige of Vietnam in the international arena.

The PM asked the Vietnamese Embassy, ministries and agencies to continue to pay attention to and care for the material and spiritual lives of the overseas Vietnamese while organising more practical activities for the Vietnamese community to maintain Vietnamese culture in Belgium. The government leader reminded the Ambassador and related agencies that they should consider the work of overseas Vietnamese as their own work and handle it as such.

At the meeting, the PM gave the Vietnamese community in Belgium a set of books to teach Vietnamese language while saying that he has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Training to build an application to teach Vietnamese online so that everyone in the world can learn the language.

Published: December 2022
Production Manager: BICH HANH
Content: Minh Hang - Nguyen Ha
Translation: NDO
Photos: NDO, VGP, VNA
Design: Dieu Thu - Phan Anh