VietNamNet Bridge – Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong left Hanoi on January 17 for Brussels, beginning a week-long European tour of Belgium, the European Union, Italy, and the UK.

He is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan, and leaders of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Planning and Investment, National Defence, and Public Security.

Since Vietnam and Belgium established diplomatic ties in 1973, bilateral multifaceted cooperation have expanded in all aspects, especially politics and diplomacy, economics, development cooperation, education and training.

Belgium has provided aid totaling nearly US$300 million to Vietnam since 1977, focusing on clean water supply, environmental sanitation, and waste management, education, agricultural and rural development, State management and health.

It is Vietnam’s fifth largest export market in Europe. Vietnam mainly exports garments, footwear, seafood, coffee and leather bags to Belgium, and imports machinery, equipment, steel, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Meanwhile, the EU is Vietnam’s leading economic and trade partner. Two-way trade has increased by 15-20 percent per annum over the years, and EU investment exceeded US$18 billion by August 2012.

The EU is now the second largest ODA provider and the largest non-refundable aid donor of Vietnam, accounting for 20 percent of all committed capital.

The two sides recently signed a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and concluded the first round of negotiations of a free trade agreement (FTA).

While in Rome, Trong and Italian leaders are expected to sign a joint statement on establishing a strategic partnership between the two countries.

Source: VOV online