(MPI) - On December 14th, 2021, the 11th meeting of the Permanent Inter-Committee between the Vietnamese Government and the French Community of Belgium in Wallonia Region, the French Community Commission in Brussels Capital Region was held under the co-chairing of Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong and General Director of Wallonia - Brussels International (WBI) Pascale Delcomminette.
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Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong speaks at the opening. Photo: TTXVN |
As stated by Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong, the meeting was an opportunity to further promote the cooperation in economic relations, education and training, as well as cultural exchange between Vietnam and Wallonia - Brussels Region in particular, and Vietnam and Belgium in general. He also expressed his gratitude towards the Belgian Government and its people’s support for the socio-economic development of Vietnam over the past time, including the contribution of the French Community of Belgium in Wallonia Region, the French Community Commission in Brussels Capital Region and the sponsor of 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines for Vietnam by the Belgian Government.
Deputy Minister Phuong spoke highly of the achieved results through cooperation projects between universities, research institutes and agencies of Vietnam and Wallonia - Brussels Region, especially in education, training, health, culture, environment and tourism. These results have made contribution to the socio-economic development and economic integration of Vietnam.
Vietnam is still a country with a low development level and is facing many challenges in the socio-economic development process, global integration and response to climate change despite its accomplishments and status of a middle-income nation. The support of the international community, including the Government and people of Belgium in general, and Wallonia - Brussels in particular, continues to play an essential role to help Vietnam overcome obstacles as well as maintain the sustainability of its achievements, especially in poverty reduction.
At the meeting, the two sides reviewed and assessed the project progress under the cooperation program in the 2019-2021 period and orientations for cooperation in the 2022-2024 period. Deputy Minister Phuong believed the cooperation program between Vietnam, Belgium and the French Community of Belgium in Wallonia Region, the French Community Commission in Brussels Capital Region would prolong and attain more outstanding results, contributing to the sustainable bilateral relations between Vietnam - Belgium, particularly in education and training, and high-quality human resources. The cooperation projects will foster economic, trade and investment partnership between the two countries, between Vietnamese localities and the French Community of Belgium in Wallonia Region, and the French Community Commission in Brussels Capital Region.
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General Director of WIB Pascale Delcomminette (from the MPI point). Photo: TTXVN |
For her part, while affirming her companionship with Vietnamese people in COVID-19 prevention, Pascale Delcomminette, General Director of Wallonia - Brussels International (WBI) was willing to share the Region’s experience to Vietnam.
The 11th Meeting took place in the context of preparation for the upcoming 50-year Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Kingdom of Belgium, 25-year Anniversary of presence of the Wallonia - Brussels Delegation in Vietnam, setting the milestone for a brand-new collaboration and summarizing results achieved throughout the previous ten Meetings of the Permanent Inter-Committee.
The 2022-2024 cooperation programme will facilitate the implementation of projects related to healthcare through the research and transfer of the most advanced medical technologies. Its results will also be a part of climate change prevention, sustainable development and capacity enhancement of stakeholders. The cooperation programme is an inextricable part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals implementation by 2030, especially those related to poverty reduction, development of quality education and training, ensure of economic growth and preservation of onshore ecosystems.
The 2022-2024 cooperation programme focuses on four goals: sustainable cooperation; sustainable industry; climate change prevention; and human health improvement with the orientation of training high quality human resources of medical workers and further developing the industry. These projects aim to realize SDGs; issues related to social topicality; training of advanced French-Vietnamese interpreters; improvement of frontline health care, etc.
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Signing of the cooperation minute. Photo: TTXVN |
With the commitment of close coordination to successfully implement selected cooperation projects, the two sides have signed the cooperation minute of the 11th meeting of the Permanent Inter-Committee between the Vietnamese Government and Wallonia - Brussels Region./.
Bao Linh
Ministry of Planning and Investment