On the morning of April 1, a formal state ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi to welcome King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. The event was hosted by President Luong Cuong and First Lady Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet.

The President and First Lady personally greeted the Belgian monarchs at their motorcade drop-off point, then invited them to the honorary position on the ceremonial stage. The national anthems of both countries were played by the military band, followed by King Philippe’s review of the Vietnamese Honor Guard.

Earlier in the day, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde laid wreaths at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs on Bac Son Street and paid their respects at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Following the ceremony, the two heads of state held a private meeting and bilateral talks.

President Luong Cuong emphasized that the state visit by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde marks a significant milestone in the diplomatic relationship between Vietnam and Belgium, opening a new chapter in their long-standing friendship.

Vietnam highly values its ties with Belgium, a key member of the European Union with a strong global voice. The President expressed deep appreciation for the continued support from the Belgian people, as well as the personal engagement and goodwill of the Belgian King and Queen.

This visit is the first official state trip to Vietnam by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde in their current royal capacity. However, it is not their first time in the country - King Philippe previously visited Vietnam three times as Crown Prince.

King Philippe expressed his pleasure at returning to Vietnam and congratulated the nation on its impressive achievements. He reaffirmed Belgium’s respect for Vietnam’s growing influence in the Asia–Pacific region and its desire to strengthen cooperation in key areas of mutual interest.

President Luong Cuong thanked Belgium for passing a resolution in support of Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange. He underscored its importance and called for further efforts to raise international awareness and cooperation on this humanitarian issue.

On economic ties - a key pillar of bilateral relations - the two leaders agreed to enhance the implementation of the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

President Luong Cuong also urged Belgium to soon ratify the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), enabling fairer and more balanced investment ties. He encouraged Belgian enterprises to expand investment in Vietnam, particularly in high-tech, renewable energy, digital transformation, and strategic infrastructure.

The President called on Belgium to advocate for the European Commission to lift the IUU “yellow card” on Vietnamese seafood exports.

King Philippe expressed his hope that Belgian businesses in water treatment, energy, and rare earth mineral extraction would find opportunities to invest and operate in Vietnam.

Both leaders highlighted the importance of the Strategic Agricultural Partnership, which includes the development of circular agriculture, smart farming, and enhanced technology transfer between research and training institutions in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.

They also agreed to explore building a new agricultural cooperation program between Vietnam and Belgium’s regional governments.

President Luong Cuong called on Belgian authorities at all levels to continue supporting the Vietnamese community’s integration into Belgian society.

On regional and international affairs, both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to multilateralism and upholding international law.

After the meeting, the leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in culture, trade, climate change, and support for Agent Orange victims.

The Belgian delegation comprised nearly 150 high-level representatives, including royals, ministers, business leaders, and officials. Notably, it included five ministers and the Prime Ministers of Belgium’s three main regions: Flanders (Dutch-speaking), Wallonia (French-speaking), and Brussels (bilingual), reflecting Belgium’s diversity and its special attention toward Vietnam.

Tran Thuong - Pham Hai