Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh left Hanoi on December 9 to attend a summit commemorating the 45th anniversary of ASEAN-EU relations and to pay official visits to Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

The December 9-16 trip is being made at the invitation of the President of the European Council Charles Michel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, and Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo.

It demonstrates Vietnam’s proactivity in making responsible contributions to ASEAN and the international community in the context of the region and the world facing complicated developments and unforeseeable challenges.

The visit will help strengthen relations between Vietnam and the three countries as Vietnam marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with them next year.

Data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs shows that trade between Vietnam and Luxembourg rose 60 per cent in 2021 against 2020, to more than $181.5 million.

As of October, Vietnam’s exports to the country this year stood at $101 million, a year-on-year increase of 50 per cent, while imports totaled $50.1 million, up 11 per cent. Vietnam mostly exports garments and footwear to Luxembourg while importing fiber and chemicals.

The Netherlands is now Vietnam’s sixth-largest export market and largest among EU members, with two-way trade exceeding $9.22 billion in the first ten months of this year. Vietnam’s exports stood at over $8.67 billion.

The country has 409 investment projects with nearly $13.7 billion in capital in Vietnam, mostly in agriculture, industry, and food and beverages.

Belgium, meanwhile, is Vietnam’s sixth-largest European trade partner, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. Prior to Covid-19, two-way trade was rising 6-10 per cent each year.

After a fall of 10 per cent in 2020, growth surged 53.8 per cent in 2021 to $4.29 billion, with Vietnam’s exports reaching $3.6 billion. By October, Vietnam had exported $3.44 billion worth of goods this year, up 219.9 per cent.