Hanoi, (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh had a meeting in Hanoi on November 4 with President of the Belgian Senate Christine Defraigne, who is on an official visit to Vie༒tnam.

The Vietnamese official voiced pleasure at the flourishing bilateral relations since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1973 and highly valued their parliamentary cooperation expansion at the federal, regional and community levels. The countries need to maximise the effectiveness of their economic, trade and investment cooperation to meet their respective demand while increasing collaboration in education-training, culture and science-technology, he added. Senate President Christine Defraigne said she is impressed by Vietnam’s socio-economic development along with the growth of their relationship while speaking highly of the Southeast Asian nations’ diplomatic achievements and standing in regional and global arenas. She underlined the Belgium Senate’s advocacy of cooperation between the countries in all fields and at all levels. At the meeting, the two sides hailed the pending signing of the Vietnam – European Union Free Trade Agreement, which will open up new opportunities for collaboration between Vietnam and the EU, including Belgium. They shared the view that the pact will help deepen their nations’ connections. They also discussed bilateral coordination at international forums and organisations and joint efforts to support regional and global peace, stability, cooperation and development.-VNA