Brussels (VNA) – General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived in Brussels on the afternoon of October 21 (local time), beginning official visits to the European Union (EU) and Belgium.
The visits are being made at the invitations of European Council President António Costa and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
At Melsbroek Military Airport, the General Secretary and President and his entourage were welcomed by First Vice-President of the Belgian Senate Andries Gryffroy, Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Pieter Leenknegt, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Antwerp Van Gestel, and other Belgian officials, along with Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Head of the Vietnamese Mission to the EU Nguyen Huong Tra, officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Belgium.
Vietnam and the EU established diplomatic relations in 1990, gradually expanding their ties from humanitarian and development cooperation into a comprehensive partnership spanning politics, economy, sustainable development, security and people-to-people exchanges.
The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), which took effect in 2016, established the political and legal framework for bilateral relations. In January 2026, Vietnam and the EU upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, broadening cooperation in areas including economy, trade, green transition, energy, innovation, security, and regional and international affairs.
Vietnam and Belgium established diplomatic relations in 1973. Vietnam has always cherished the Belgian Government and people's wholehearted support for the country's post-war reconstruction and recovery.
Over more than five decades, bilateral relations have continued to strengthen across various fields, particularly politics and diplomacy, trade, agriculture, education and training, science and technology, and development collaboration. Cooperation has expanded at the federal, regional and community levels.
Belgium attaches importance to its relations with Vietnam, speaks highly of the country's economic development and has been a valued international partner contributing to Vietnam's progress through development cooperation programmes.
The two countries also actively coordinate at multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and ASEAN-EU frameworks.
The official visits by General Secretary and President Lam to the EU and Belgium reaffirm the importance Vietnam attaches to both partners in its overall foreign policy and international integration strategy.
The visits are expected to consolidate political trust, deepen relations with the two partners and translate existing high-level commitments into concrete, practical actions, laying the groundwork for a new and higher stage of development in Vietnam's relations with the EU and Belgium./.
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☕ Afternoon briefing on October 21
The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
16th National Assembly’s second session: Lawmakers seek transparent organ allocation criteria
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Intermediaries need to be eliminated to ensure reasonable medicine, medical equipment prices: PM
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Lawmakers propose scrapping employment service licences, expanding compulsory social insurance coverage
The draft law amending and supplementing some articles of the Law on Social Insurance will authorise the NA Standing Committee to decide, based on Government proposals and socio-economic conditions, on compulsory coverage for people working without employment contracts and those on digital platforms with stable, regular jobs and incomes.
Healthcare law revisions aim to safeguard public rights and safety
Proposed revisions to healthcare laws aim to strengthen safeguards for public health and individual rights, expand access to organ transplantation, streamline administrative procedures and improve oversight of medicines and medical devices, while ensuring protection for vulnerable groups and health insurance beneficiaries.
Polish Prime Minister to pay official visit to Vietnam
Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk will pay an official visit to Vietnam from October 24 to 26.
16th NA’s second session: Social insurance coverage to expand under roadmap
The draft Law amending and supplementing some articles of the Law on Social Insurance sets out a roadmap to expand coverage to people working without formal employment relationships, digital platform workers and other groups with stable, regular employment and income. The expansion will be phased in line with socio-economic conditions in each period.
☀️ Morning digest on October 21
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
Top leader stresses linking Denmark’s strengths with Vietnam’s potential, development opportunities
Vietnam stands ready to work alongside Denmark to link Denmark’s strengths with Vietnam’s potential and development opportunities, jointly pursuing lasting peace, sustainable development and green prosperity, said General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam.
Top Vietnamese leader’s visit to push for deeper EU ties
The trip to the EU comes as Vietnam-EU ties gain momentum. It aims to reaffirm the importance Vietnam attaches to the EU in its overall foreign policy, strengthen political trust and advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in an increasingly substantive and effective manner.
Top leader hails friendship association's role in nurturing Vietnam–Denmark ties
Stressing that the new phase of development is significant for both countries, the Vietnamese leader called on the Denmark–Vietnam Friendship Association to continue serving as a bridge of friendship and helping deepen the Vietnam–Denmark Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Vietnam urged to turn overseas talent into national development force
Politburo Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW has created opportunities for overseas Vietnamese to contribute directly to national development through their expertise, experience and international networks.
Vietnam, Denmark issue joint statement on establishment of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Both sides emphasise that mutual interest, respect, along with historical ties are at the centre of the growing bilateral partnership. They reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in areas that bring tangible benefits to both nations and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity.
Vietnam, Denmark upgrade ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
General Secretary and President To Lam and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen concurred in identifying economic, trade, and investment cooperation as an important pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Vietnam's first lady, Danish Queen present Vietnamese book collection to Copenhagen library
Books offer a valuable way to understand a nation, and lasting friendship between the two countries begins with mutual understanding of each other's history, values and spirit, Ngo Phuong Ly said, expressing her hope that the library will continue to share readers’ needs.
NA deputies call for transparent electricity pricing mechanism
NA President Tran Thanh Man noted that the Government proposed amending and supplementing several provisions to address bottlenecks related to investment procedures, improve electricity pricing mechanisms, direct power purchase agreements (DPPAs) and offshore wind power development.
Vietnam looks to China’s experience in preparation for APEC 2027
Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan congratulated China's Ministry of Finance on successfully organising a series of meetings under the APEC Finance Ministers’ Process (FMP) 2026, which, he said, has contributed significantly to regional economic and financial cooperation and the success of APEC 2026.
General Secretary and President To Lam witnesses exchange of Vietnam-Denmark cooperation agreements
The exchange of cooperation agreements took place at the Vietnam-Denmark Business Forum in Copenhagen on the morning of October 20 (local time), as part of the top Vietnamese leader’s state visit to Denmark.
Vietnam, Singapore seek to deepen cooperation in personnel training
Politburo member and Standing member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu expressed appreciation for Singapore’s support for Vietnam’s reform, development and international integration, particularly through practical training programmes and the sharing of experience in policymaking, economic management and effective policy implementation.