Brussels (VNA) – General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam and his spouse met with Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde in Brussels on October 23 morning (local time) during their ongoing official visit to Belgium.
King Philippe said the visit comes as the traditional friendship and wide-ranging cooperation between the two countries grow, and voiced confidence it would be an important milestone and give new impetus to upgrading ties soon.
He congratulated Vietnam on its socio-economic gains and rising global standing. Belgium places great importance on the relationship and stays ready to support Vietnam in reaching its sustainable development goals, he said.
The King also recalled fond memories of his past visits and close affinity with the Vietnamese people, and thanked Vietnam for the warm welcome during his 2025 state visit.
Expressing his delight at meeting King Philippe again, General Secretary and President Lam affirmed the strong bonds between the two countries and their people. He singled out the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, which he commended as the only legislature in the world to date to adopt a resolution backing Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin, a sign of humanitarian spirit and deep solidarity between the two peoples.
Sharing this deeply humanitarian significance, King Philippe also underscored Belgium’s support for, sympathy and solidarity with AO/dioxin victims.
General Secretary and President Lam, for his part, said the King and Queen’s recent visit to Vietnam created strong momentum to bilateral ties across various fields.
To lift ties to a new level, he proposed that the two sides make better use of their economic, trade and investment cooperation potential, especially in areas of shared strength such as seaports, science-technology, and semiconductors.
He thanked Belgium for the Chamber of Representatives’ approval of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, and said he expects its entry into force to create more favourable conditions for two-way investment and trade.
The two leaders agreed to keep fostering cooperation in education-training, culture and people-to-people exchanges. With more Belgians living, working and travelling in Vietnam, he suggested the King continue supporting the Vietnamese community in Belgium so its members can contribute more to Belgium and the friendship between the two countries.
On strategic and global issues, the two sides showed strong consensus on major orientations to broadening cooperation and are determined to upgrade ties to a Strategic Partnership in the coming period.
The host and guest reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, stressing the UN’s role and strict adherence to international law and the UN Charter in maintaining global peace, stability and cooperation./.
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☕ Afternoon briefing on October 23
The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
Special lawmaking mechanisms must not become the norm: NA President
National Assembly (NA) President Tran Thanh Man has stressed that special and emergency lawmaking mechanisms must remain exceptional, warning against allowing them to undermine the legal system’s discipline and stability.
Polish PM’s Vietnam visit to strengthen bilateral ties: Ambassador
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s upcoming official visit to Vietnam would help identify areas with the greatest potential for cooperation, including education, trade, culture, people-to-people exchanges and coordination at international forums.
Lawmakers discuss four bills on finance, budget, investment
Presenting the Government’s submission on the draft consolidated Law on the State Budget, Finance Minister Ngo Van Tuan said the draft law is based on the structure and layout of the 2025 Law on the State Budget.
Lawmakers seek to remove legal bottlenecks
Comprising four chapters and 32 articles, the draft revised laws on Compulsory Purchase and Requisition of Property sets out procedures for compulsory purchases and requisitions, the powers and responsibilities of State agencies, and the rights and obligations of property owners
Polish PM’s upcoming visit to Vietnam to boost bilateral ties
In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the visit, Hai said the trip reflects the Polish Government’s high regard for Vietnam as one of Poland’s priority partners in the Indo-Pacific and an important partner in ASEAN.
Uruguayan parliament highlights Vietnam’s role, bilateral cooperation prospects
In his opening remarks, Víctor Aldaya, chairman of the friendship group, said the meeting takes place as the Uruguayan Government is seeking to strengthen political, trade and cultural relations with Vietnam.
Vietnam, EU sign Letter of Intent on Education and Training
This is the first time a Letter of Intent has been signed between the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam and the European Commission to implement cooperation comprehensively, from qualification recognition in education and training to skills development in the new period.
Austria-Vietnam Association marks 50 years of fostering friendship
Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Vu Le Thai Hoang highlighted the association’s longstanding contributions to bilateral friendship. He praised its solidarity with the Vietnamese people since its establishment in 1976, highlighting its efforts to help Vietnam overcome the blockade and embargo, promote humanitarian projects, support post-war recovery, and assist Agent Orange victims and orphans in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.
16th NA moves to streamline legal documents
Lawmakers then will hold group discussions on the draft law on compulsory purchase and requisition of property, the draft law on legal normative documents and the implementation report.
☀️ Morning digest on October 23
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
Top leader visits Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium
The leader stressed that Vietnam-Belgium relations had been built and nurtured over the years on the foundations of friendship, trust and mutually beneficial cooperation. Flanders and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges are important partners in this relationship, particularly in maritime affairs, seaports and logistics.
Top leader holds talks with European Council President
Vietnam regards the EU as one of its top-priority partners, with substantial shared interests and long-term cooperation potential. It wishes to translate commitments into concrete outcomes and practical cooperation projects that will support development and improve the lives of people on both sides, said top leader To Lam.
Joint press release on top Vietnamese leader's official visit to European Union
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the partnership, including through Global Gateway investments and the Just Energy Transition Partnership.
Vietnam regards European Union as one of its priority partners: Top leader
On regional and international issues, both leaders agreed to coordinate closely at multilateral forums, uphold multilateralism and international law, and promote free, smooth and unhindered trade. They also underscored the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thus contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development in the region and the world.
Vietnam, Belgium seek to deepen bilateral cooperation
Trung highlighted the positive development of Vietnam-Belgium relations over the past more than five decades since the establishment of diplomatic ties, particularly following the state visit to Vietnam by the Belgian King and Queen in April 2025. He affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to friendship and cooperation with Belgium, an important partner in Europe.
Top Vietnamese leader attends high-level dialogue with leading European, Belgian business executives
Cooperation should go beyond expanding trade and investment to improving its quality, increasing technological content, raising development standards and competitiveness, and strengthening the position of businesses from both sides in global value chains, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam said.