VUFO Vice President Bui Khac Son handed over the insignia to Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Jehanne Roccas.
Speaking at the event, VUFO Vice President Bui Khac Son congratulated the Ambassador on her successful working tenure in Vietnam and recognised her contributions to Vietnam-Belgium ties, especially in politics-diplomacy, trade, economy, development, education and people-to-people exchange.
She has actively organised visits and working sessions between leaders of ministries, agencies, organisations and businesses of both countries, he said.
The outgoing ambassador has also worked to accelerate the implementation of the Belgian Government’s non-refundable aid projects in several localities in Vietnam in the fields of State management, human resources development and climate change response, he added.
Son expressed his wish that Jehanne Roccas, in any capacity, will continue contributing to consolidating and developing the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium.
For her part, the Belgian ambassador said she was honoured to receive the insignia, the most notable reward of the VUFO.
Vietnam and Belgium set up diplomatic ties in 1973. This year, Vietnam and Belgium celebrate the 45thfounding 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, she said, elaborating that Vietnam has become an important Southeast Asian partner of Belgium in all spheres, from politics, economy, trade, culture and education-training to scientific research.
Economic and trade cooperation has played a key role in bilateral ties. In 2017, two-way trade reached nearly USD 2.5 billion. Belgium has invested USD 1 billion in Vietnam.
Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Jehanne Roccas said she is honoured to receive the friendship insignia.
Thousands of Vietnamese students, postgraduates and doctors have been receiving training in the European nation. Notably, more than 2,000 Vietnamese have finished the Solvay Vietnam Master programmes, the diplomat said.
Educational cooperation is one of the highlights of bilateral ties in politics, culture, and education which have made decent progress at all levels over the years, helping the two countries to promote the image of each other among their people, he said.
She affirmed that her country is ready to support Vietnam in various areas, especially education, and that Belgium, along with some other European nations, are looking to set up a university in Vietnam.
The outgoing ambassador also believed those who have studied in Belgium will serve as an important bridge for the two nations’ friendship and cooperation.
She promised that in any capacity, she will try her best to develop the relationship between Vietnam and Belgium as well as the amity and solidarity between their people./.
