Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc’s upcoming official visit to Belgium takes place in the context ofconstant development of the relationship between Vietnam and the country invarious realms and at different levels.

This year marks the 45th anniversary ofthe establishment of the two countries’ diplomatic ties (March 22, 1973).

Belgium is Vietnam’s seventh biggest importer in theEuropean Union (EU), after Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Italy, France,Spain and Austria. Though being only a small country, Belgium has served as animportant gateway for Vietnam’s commodities to access other Western Europeannations.

In 2017, Belgium had 62 investment projects withtotal capital of 595 million USD in Vietnam. Most projects are of small scale.

Meanwhile, Vietnam has invested in two projects inBrussels, including a 152,000 USD trade promotion centre in Brussels and the Europetrade and investment joint stock company worth 90,000 USD.

Since the two countries signed the FrameworkAgreement on Economic, Industrial and Technical Cooperation in 1977, Belgiumhas offered nearly 300 million USD in loans and non-refundable aid to Vietnam,with about 60 percent non-refundable aid.

Their cooperation programmes have mainly targetedwater resource management, waste treatment, State management, institutionalenhancement and administrative reform, education, agriculture and ruraldevelopment, and health care.

Belgium ended its non-refundable aid to Vietnam in July2018.

The Vietnam-Belgium Joint Committee on Scientificand Technical Cooperation meets every three years to review and set directionsfor cooperation programmes and projects between the two countries.

The two sides are teaming up in 18 research projectswith a total funding of 8 million USD in the form of cooperation betweenuniversities and research institutes, expert exchange and implementation ofjoint research programmes.

Each year, Belgium provides about 2 million EUR forVietnam’s education-training sector through cooperation programmes betweenuniversities and research institutes. Nearly 300 Vietnamese students arestudying and doing research in the country.

Besides, many joint projects on languages,scientific research capacity improvement and personnel training have also been launchedat local level.

PM Phuc’s Belgium visit is madeat the invitation of his Belgian counterpart Charles Michel. It is part of histrip to Europe from October 14-21 to attend the 12th ASEM Summit (ASEM 12) andthe Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 Summit (P4G) and payofficials visits to Austria, Belgium, Demark and a working visit to theEuropean Union (EU).-VNA