Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem has called for concerted efforts to maintain Belgium’s status as Vietnam’s fourth largest European importer.

Khiem also pushed for the deployment of a cooperation program for the 2007-10 period, for which Belgium had committed to an aid package worth 37.5 million euros (US$53 million) to Vietnam through projects in healthcare, tourism, education and training, natural resources and environment and poverty reduction.

Leterme assured his host of Belgium’s continued assistance to Vietnam in its renewal process as well as in boosting relations with other European Union members.

The Belgium’s government will strengthen economic ties with Vietnam, further encouraging Belgian businesses to promote trade and investment in the Southeast Asian market, emphasized the Belgian minister, who will end his two-day visit to Vietnam Wednesday.

Source: VNA