Brussels (VNA) – General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam on October 24 (local time) met with representatives of Vietnamese experts and intellectuals in Belgium and Luxembourg during his official visit to Belgium.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Head of the Vietnamese Mission to the European Union (EU) Nguyen Huong Tra briefed attendees on the activities of Vietnamese intellectuals, experts and scientists who live, study, conduct research and work in Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as in neighboring countries like France, the Netherlands and Austria.
The experts put forward specific proposals, including making Vietnam a leading artificial intelligence (AI) services hub in Asia; expanding Vietnam-Belgium and Vietnam-EU cooperation in nuclear energy, semiconductors and green materials; building a comprehensive resilience framework for critical infrastructure; creating a modern, self-reliant and sustainable agricultural biotechnology ecosystem; developing a circular industrial model from rice straw to green steel, advancing quantum technology from experimentation to workforce development, and building laser satellite communications and space connectivity infrastructure.
General Secretary and President Lam noted that the 14th National Party Congress set the goal of turning Vietnam into a high-income developed country by 2045. That journey can no longer rely on cheap capital and labour and raw resources. Science, technology, innovation and digital transformation are no longer optional but imperative. Yet results haven’t matched the country’s determination, with execution the biggest bottleneck.
He called for a shift from “seeking resources” to “connecting resources with needs”. Ministries, agencies, localities and companies must spell out what they need: the problems to be solved, the technologies they lack, who will receive and apply the results, and what the final products should be. He urged experts and intellectuals to proactively sign up for tasks tied to the country’s major challenges and strategic technologies.
They should also pick key tasks that are feasible, have domestic partners and can be applied more widely. Each task needs clear goals, a timeline and a designated person responsible, and should count as complete only when it yields an operational product, verifiable data, actual users and measurable results. Successful initiatives should then be replicated and spread, he said.
According to him, flexible mechanisms are needed, including task-based expert contracts, remote working, joint research and funding tied to final products. Financial mechanisms should be flexible enough for experts and intellectuals to join specific projects directly, and intellectual property rights must be clearly defined. The risks and delays inherent in research should be accepted. Intellectuals should be judged on results and their expertise respected, with the most capable ones picked to take on tasks and deliver rather than being hampered by red tape.
Every joint project must leave capacity behind in Vietnam, he said. The ultimate measure isn’t the number of agreements or memoranda signed, but how many domestic engineers and scientists are trained, how many labs and strong research teams are set up and how many technology companies are created. Technology transfer alone isn’t enough; the parties must develop technologies together, paving the way to self-reliance.
The Ministry of Science and Technology was asked to take the lead, in coordination with the ministries of foreign affairs and education and training and other relevant ministries and sectors, in collecting all recommendations from experts and intellectuals. Matters within their authority must be addressed promptly, while those beyond it should be proactively escalated for settlement. Written responses must be provided, with a specific focal point assigned to each task.
The top Vietnamese leader said he hopes the Association of Vietnamese Intellectuals in Belgium and Luxembourg will keep expanding its network with universities, research institutes and technology companies in Belgium, Luxembourg and elsewhere in Europe, and help Europeans better understand a Vietnam undergoing innovation and integration. He also urged the group to devote more attention to mentoring the younger generation of Vietnamese intellectuals in Europe, so the flow of knowledge and expertise to the homeland stays uninterrupted./.
VNA
See more
General Secretary and President To Lam wraps up official visit to EU, Belgium
During the official visit to the EU, General Secretary and President Lam held talks with European Council President Costa and met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, among other engagements. At the meetings, both sides welcomed the positive momentum in Vietnam-EU relations, particularly since the two sides upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January.
Joint Statement on outcome of top Vietnamese leader’s official visit to Belgium
The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and Belgium inform that the two sides have agreed on the Joint Statement on the outcome of the official visit to the Kingdom of Belgium from October 23-24 by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, at the invitation of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
Vietnam, Workers’ Party of Belgium seek to strengthen ties
Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung said Vietnam wishes to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation with political parties in Europe, including the PTB.
Top legislator warns against trading environment for growth in law revision
On a proposal to drop concentrated residential areas and water sources used for daily life from the list of environmentally sensitive factors, he said issues directly tied to public health can’t simply be streamlined. Environmental legislation is meant to improve quality of life, noting persistent concerns over household and hospital waste, water pollution and air quality.
Top Vietnamese leader, his spouse present books to Royal Library of Belgium
After touring the library, the Vietnamese leader and his spouse presented a publication featuring excerpts from the Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks, recognised by UNESCO as a World Documentary Heritage, along with books introducing Vietnam’s history, culture, land and people.
Top Vietnamese leader’s spouse tours Brussels children’s university hospital
Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, praised the hospital’s approach after hearing from doctors and seeing it firsthand, noting that nurturing children’s emotional well-being and psychological resilience is treated as no less important than medical care.
Lawmakers push to tie FDI incentives to technology transfer, output
National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man, in group discussions, set out three principles of making it as easy as possible for lawful investors without loosening legal discipline, giving officials more room to act without blurring lines of authority, and expanding targeted incentives and support while keeping resources under control and results measurable.
Polish Prime Minister visits Hoi An Ancient Town
Following the commemorative ceremony, Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the delegation strolled along the ancient town’s streets, visited several cultural and historical sites, and enjoyed artistic performances held in their honour.
People-to-people diplomacy helps strengthen Vietnam–Czech Republic ties
Czech Ambassador to Vietnam Lukas Kaucky commended the friendship association's people-to-people diplomatic activities, which have helped strengthen the longstanding friendship between the two countries.
Top Vietnamese leader's policy speech at Egmont Institute of Belgium
General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his hope that from this hall at the Egmont Institute, European policymakers and scholars will come to see Vietnam as a “trusted partner” and a “strategic link” connecting the continents of Asia and Europe.
Top Vietnamese leader meets with Belgian Senate Speaker, House President
The host leaders described the Belgian House of Representatives' approval of the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) as tangible evidence of the two countries’ determination and potential to expand economic, trade and investment cooperation.
General Secretary, President To Lam receives Minister-President of Belgium's Flanders
The top leader called on Flanders to support the early elevation of Vietnam–Belgium relations to a strategic partnership, take a pioneering role in promoting economic cooperation, encourage businesses to expand investment in Vietnam, and back the completion of ratification and effective implementation of the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
Vietnamese, Belgian leaders agree to enhance multifaceted collaboration
The two sides agreed to further strengthen political trust, maintain exchanges and better understand each other’s concerns and needs, with a view to expanding cooperation and elevating ties to a new level.
Top leader gives policy speech in Brussels, sharing vision for Vietnam–EU ties
General Secretary and President To Lam described the Vietnam–Belgium relationship as the most vivid testament to the depth of the Vietnam–EU partnership, proposing several areas for breakthrough strategic cooperation in the coming period.
Polish PM arrives in Da Nang, beginning official visit to Vietnam
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's official visit to Vietnam comes as bilateral ties are in an especially strong phase, with conditions in place to move to a higher level. It offers a chance to push practical economic, trade and investment cooperation, improve market access and clear barriers to goods from both sides.
Vietnamese leaders extend sympathies over serious earthquake in Tibet, China
The earthquake struck Baqing county, Nagqu city, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China on the evening of October 22, causing heavy losses of life and property.
Vietnam rotates two officers to UN peacekeeping missions in Abyei, South Sudan
Sen. Lt. Col. Nguyen My Hanh, an English-language lecturer in the Department of Foreign Languages at the Military Academy of Logistics, will replace Lt. Col. Nguyen Van Thu as senior training staff officer at UNISFA; and Capt. Truong Tan Huy, a logistics assistant at Battalion 871 of Brigade 954 under Naval Region 4 of the Vietnam People’s Navy, will take over from Maj. Le Vinh Hoang as a military observer at UNMISS.
Vietnamese peacekeeping units successfully complete UN missions
Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 4 and Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 7 have succesfully completed their UN peacekeeping missions, heard a hybrid conference hosted by the Ministry of National Defence on October 23.
Belgian Prime Minister hosts welcome ceremony for Vietnam’s top leader
Belgium attaches importance to its relationship with Vietnam, values the country’s economic development and has made positive contributions to Vietnam’s development through development cooperation programmes. The two countries have also actively coordinated at multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the ASEAN-EU framework.
Top Vietnamese leader meets with Belgian King and Queen
Belgium places great importance on the relationship and stays ready to support Vietnam in reaching its sustainable development goals, said Belgian King Philippe.