His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium. (Photo: The Belgian Monarchy)
The invitation has been extended by Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, the Ministry said in a press communique on March 27.
Vietnam and Belgium have enjoyed strong diplomatic ties since 1973, with cooperation spanning politics, trade, investment, education, and sustainable development.
Belgium is an important partner for Vietnam within the European Union (EU) that supports trade agreements and development programmes.
Belgium is one of Vietnam’s major trading partners in the EU. Annual bilateral trade has exceeded US$3 billion in recent years, with Belgium importing seafood, textiles, and agricultural products from Vietnam while exporting chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and machinery.
The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) that came into force in 2020 has boosted trade by reducing tariffs and expanding market access for their products.
Belgium has provided over EUR300 million in official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, focusing on education, clean water, climate change adaptation, and technology transfer.
The State visit of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde is expected to enhance economic and strategic ties between Vietnam and Belgium, especially in climate change response, economic growth, and digital transformation.