(Construction) - On March 31, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Xuan Sang held a meeting with Ms. Cieltje Van Achter, Minister for Brussels and Communications in the Flanders Region of the Kingdom of Belgium, to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

In her remarks at the meeting, Minister Cieltje Van Achter expressed her pleasure at the recent cooperative efforts between the Kingdom of Belgium and Vietnam.

Ms. Cieltje Van Achter, Minister for Brussels and Communications of the Flanders Region, Kingdom of Belgium.

According to Ms. Van Achter, seaports are vital not only for connecting the capital region with other areas, but also in driving digitalisation efforts and enhancing the use of multimodal transport. Currently, Belgian seaports are focusing on promoting sustainable transport activities by offering multimodal transport services, facilitating goods transportation, and utilising green energy vehicles. The goal is to develop logistics that are sustainable, safe, and efficient.

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Xuan Sang.

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Xuan Sang reaffirmed that the Vietnamese Government places great importance on strengthening the increasingly deep, substantive, and effective relationship with the Kingdom of Belgium. Highlighting the significance of the meeting between the two Ministries, Deputy Minister Nguyen Xuan Sang noted that it is particularly meaningful in the context of Vietnam and Belgium celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1973-2023). He emphasised that the Vietnamese Government is committed to further enhancing this relationship.

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Xuan Sang, given the potential and development needs of both countries, this cooperation holds even greater importance. He further mentioned that the current capacity of Vietnam\'s seaports stands at approximately 800 million tons per year, with projections to reach around 1.4 billion tons per year by 2030.

The leader of the Ministry of Construction proposed that the Government of Flanders continue to support the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration by sharing information, expertise, and transferring technology related to the construction and maintenance of maritime and waterway infrastructure. This includes the operation and management of seaports and waterway ports, as well as enhancing connectivity between seaports and waterway ports.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs of the Flanders Region and the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The Office of the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs of the Flanders Region and the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation, aimed at promoting bilateral activities in the maritime and waterway sectors.

The signing ceremony of the MoU between the Office of the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs of the Flanders Region and the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration took place within the framework of the working session. This agreement creates momentum to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the maritime and waterway sectors, aligning with Vietnam\'s interests and the strengths of Flanders, Belgium, and contributing to the promotion of socio-economic development.