General Secretary and President To Lam outlines 3 major directions of cooperation between Vietnam, EU and Belgium

According to VNA, within the framework of the official visit to the European Union (EU) and the Kingdom of Belgium, on the morning of October 22 (local time), General Secretary and President To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation attended a high-level seminar with typical European and Belgian business leaders.

Speaking at the seminar, General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized that this is a suitable time to set higher requirements for economic cooperation between Vietnam and Europe, Vietnam and Belgium: Not only to expand trade and investment, but also to improve the quality of cooperation, improve the content of technology, development standards, competitiveness and enhance the position of businesses of the two sides in global value chains.

General Secretary and President To Lam said that Vietnam - EU and Vietnam - Kingdom of Belgium relations are facing new development opportunities. Vietnam wishes the two sides to continue to effectively exploit the advantages of the EVFTA Agreement, and at the same time promote the completion of ratification of the Vietnam - EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), creating a more favorable legal foundation for long-term, stable and sustainable investment activities.

General Secretary and President To Lam proposed to focus on 3 major directions of cooperation: First, cooperation in developing strategic infrastructure, logistics, seaports, clean energy and circular economy. Vietnam has a very large demand for transport infrastructure, seaports, logistics, energy, power grids, digital infrastructure and green industrial parks.

Second, jointly promote high technology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, semiconductor, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and high-tech agriculture. Vietnam is identifying science, technology, innovation, digital transformation and green transformation as important driving forces for innovation in growth models.

Third, jointly upgrade trade into a high-standard, sustainable and responsible value chain. The Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has helped goods from both sides access the market more conveniently. But the next stage must help capital, technology, businesses, standards and supply chains of both sides become deeper connected.

Vietnam wishes to increase the proportion of products with higher technology, processing, design, brand and added value when participating in the European market; and at the same time has a large demand for importing machinery, equipment, pharmaceuticals, technology, raw materials, green solutions and high-quality services from Europe.

General Secretary and President To Lam affirmed: Vietnam continues to build a stable, transparent, competitive and predictable investment and business environment; improve the quality of project preparation, information transparency and improve conditions for investors to assess, mobilize capital and implement long-term projects; handle legitimate difficulties and obstacles of businesses with the spirit of clear focal points, clear responsibilities, clear progress and clear results.

Vietnam will continue to promote the effective implementation of the EVFTA Agreement and coordinate to ensure that the EVIPA Agreement is soon completed and ratified, and fully implemented when conditions are met. For projects with quality, technology, spillover effects and in line with Vietnam's development orientation, ministries, sectors and localities will accompany to promote substantive implementation.

General Secretary and President To Lam believes that, with the new strategic vision of Vietnam - EU, Vietnam - Belgium relations, with the capacity of European and Belgian businesses, and Vietnam's aspirations for development, a new stage of cooperation can be created: More connected, more modern, more sustainable, more balanced and more valuable for the people of both sides.

At the seminar, General Secretary and President To Lam and delegates witnessed the Exchange of Cooperation Agreements.

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