Vietnam's top leader arrives in Brussels for EU, Belgium state visits

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam arrived in Brussels on the evening of October 21 (Hanoi time), accompanied by his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly and a senior Vietnamese delegation. The visit follows invitations extended by European Council President Antonio Costa and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, underscoring the importance both sides place on bilateral and multilateral engagement.

The official visits are expected to explore expanding cooperation between Vietnam and the European Union across multiple sectors. Trade and investment remain central to the discussions, with both sides keen to identify new opportunities for economic collaboration and deepen existing commercial ties.

Technology cooperation is also anticipated to feature prominently in the talks. Vietnamese officials have signaled interest in learning from European experience and expertise, particularly in emerging fields such as quantum technology development, as Vietnam seeks to strengthen its capacity in advanced scientific domains.

The high-level engagement reflects Vietnam's strategy of strengthening partnerships with major global players while positioning itself as a key partner for European interests in Southeast Asia. The visits are expected to yield outcomes that advance mutual interests and set directions for future cooperation.

Photo: To Lam (right) meets EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Hanoi, July 2024. Minh Hoang / European Commission Audiovisual Service via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).