Namur – The Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA), Tran Thanh Man, engaged in a working session with André Frédéric, President of the Parliament of the Walloon Region of Belgium, on November 17 in Namur city. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations and exploring new areas of cooperation.
According to Tran Thanh Man, Vietnam highly values its relationship with Belgium, an important member of the European Union, and is keen to enhance collaboration in various fields including Party, government, parliament, and people-to-people exchanges. He expressed gratitude towards the Walloon Parliament for ratifying the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and urged Walloon parliamentarians to advocate for the Belgian Parliament’s swift ratification of the agreement. This ratification is anticipated to boost bilateral investment cooperation and benefit Belgian investors in Vietnam.
Man highlighted the effective implementation of Walloon-funded projects in Vietnam, particularly in education, logistics, agriculture, climate change response, and the environment. He conveyed his hope for increased cooperation between the Walloon Region and Vietnam, particularly in the development of the education sector and other areas.
Reflecting on the robust ties between the Vietnamese and Belgian legislatures, Man appreciated the partnership with the parliaments of Belgian regions and looked forward to strengthened ties with the Walloon parliament and administration.
André Frédéric proposed establishing a joint committee to discuss mutual projects and areas of interest. He noted that several cooperation fields, including education, health care, and the environment, have been explored for 2022-2024, with plans to assess the effectiveness of these projects and consider future joint initiatives.
Frédéric also addressed the upcoming general election in June 2024, assuring that the new Belgian legislative personnel will continue the collaborative efforts with Vietnam. He suggested exploring new forms of parliamentary cooperation and stressed the importance of city and regional planning that balances economic development and environmental protection, especially in light of climate change challenges faced by both the Walloon Region and Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.
Emphasizing the need for stronger global solidarity and collaboration, as highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, Frédéric expressed his deep regard for Vietnam and its people, committing to promote the ties between Vietnam and the Walloon Region, regardless of his future position.