At the ceremony, chairman of the Viet Nam-Belgium Friendship Association Pham Manh Hung, who is also Deputy Minister of Education and Training, said since Prince Leopold I became the first king of Belgium 187 years ago, Belgium has swiftly become an industrialised nation with a developed economy and leading science-technology in the world. It currently ranks 21st in the Human Development Index and has won 10 Nobel prizes in different fields.

He wished the Belgian people to obtain more achievements to further contribute to the world’s development, prosperity and peace.

Mr. Hung added that this year, Viet Nam and Belgium celebrate the 45th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties, which is a significant milestone in bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Great strides have been seen in bilateral relations over the last four and a half decades, he said, elaborating that Viet Nam has become an important Southeast Asian partner of Belgium in all spheres, from politics, economy, trade, culture and education-training to scientific research. 

Both sides have also coordinated closely at multilateral forums and international organisationslike the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting, the ASEAN-EU cooperation, and the International Organisation of La Francophonie.

Friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Belgium and Viet Nam have been developed over the last 44 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973.

Belgium has taken pride in supporting the development of Viet Nam in a number of areas. In particular, it has assisted the education sector through scholarship programs and knowledge exchange. More than 2,000 Vietnamese have received Belgian education to date.

By Hoang Ha