To this effect, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for 2008-2010 was signed in Ha Noi on July 6 by Cao Viet Sinh, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment and Willy Block, General Director of Belgium's Flemish Association for Development Cooperation and Technical Assistance (WOB).

The Vietnamese deputy minister said that the Flemish region has assisted Viet Nam markedly in economic development, poverty reduction and education. The signing of the MOU marked a new step of development in Viet Nam -Belgium relations, particularly Viet Nam and the Flemish region, he stressed.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Flemish organisations have provided Viet Nam with nearly 15 million EUR in non-refundable aid, mainly focusing on education, training and promotion of agriculture and fisheries.-(VNA)