Brussels (VNA) – While in Belgium, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to Hugo Vandenderghe, Vice President of the Senate and Herman Van Rompuy, President of the Chamber of Representatives of the Federal Parliament.

It also had working sessions with Happart, president of the parliament of Wallonie; Vanderpoorten, president of the parliament of Flamand; and Sven Gatz, leader of the Liberal Party and the Flamand parliament, among others.

The two sides exchanged experiences in parliamentary activities such as oversight of cabinet member appointments, budget spendings approval and examination, interpellation process and mutual assistance among parliamentary committees.

NA Vice Chairman Son thanked the Belgian government, parliament and people for their assistance to Vietnam as well as their support for the country’s bid to access the World Trade Organisation, to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

He highly valued agreements signed recently between Vietnam and Belgium , and informed the good results of Belgium’s official development assistance to Vietnam.

The Vice Chairman also asked the Belgian side to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese commodities to enter the European Union market and called for Belgium’s action to advise EU not to extend the anti-dumping tariff on Vietnam’s leather-upper shoes and soon recognise the country’s market economy.

The Belgian side affirmed its support for Vietnam to achieve socio-economic development goals, and train scientists and technicians.

It also exchanged views with Vietnamese delegation on international food security and other international matters of common concern.

Vice National Assembly Chairman visits Belgium