The executive board of the General Association of Vietnamese in Belgium for the 2023-2026 tenure makes debut. (Photo: VNA)
Brussels (VNA) – The General Association of Vietnamese in Belgium (GAVB)held a congress for the 2023꧙-2026 tenure in Brussels on December 17.
The event tookplace at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Belgiumdiplomatic ties and marked ten years since the GAVB was set up. GAVB Chairman Huynh Cong My reviewed the outstanding activities of the associationover the past ten years, saying it has maintained close contact with the State Committee for OverseasVietnamese Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and updated information on policies towards overseasVietnamese to disseminate to its members. Its executive board has expandedrelationships with Vietnamese associations in other European countries such asGermany, the Czech Republic, France, and the Netherlands, thereby organisingexchange activities and enhancing understanding as well as contributing to theactivities of the Union of Vietnamese People Associations in Europe, he continued. Determining thatforeign affairs and strengthening cooperation with the host country’s organisationsare also extremely important, the GAVB has held meetings with the authorities of Ixelles district- where the Vietnamese Embassy is headquartered - and received support in implementingcommunity activities. Every year, itorganises traditional cultural activities towards the homeland such as Tet (LunarNew Year) Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival. These events attract the participationof Vietnamese-Belgian families and Vietnamese people living in Belgium, hesaid, adding that these are opportunities to help children born and raised in theEuropean country better understand Vietnamese culture.
The GAVB now has250 members of various ages and backgrounds, My said, describing it as an advantagefor the association to develop future activities.
A new executive board with 15 members was elected at the congress with Huynh Cong My re-elected as the chairman for the 2023-2026 t🦩enure.
Onthis occasion, Vu Thu Thuy, Deputy Ambassador of Vietnam to Belgium, highlyappreciated the efforts and achievements of the GAVB over the past years. Sheaffirmed that the embassy always accompanies and supports the association tobuild a united and prosperous community./.
Representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium participated in the annual Manifiesta (Solidarity) Festival of the Workers’ Party of Belgium held in Ostende city from September 9-10.
A Vietnam-Belgium business meeting was held in Brussels on October 18, aiming to create a chance for direct discussions and connections among enterprises of the two countries.
The Flemish Association for Development Cooperation and Technical Assistance (VVOB) - a non-profit organisation in Belgium operating in education, received a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its operation in Vietnam.
President of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium Éliane Tillieux hosted a reception for Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao and representatives from the Collectif Vietnam Dioxine Association and the Belgium-Vietnam Friendship Association (BVFA) in Brussels on November 7.
Deputy Director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Le Hoang Tai and Pascale Delcomminette, CEO of Belgium’s Wallonia Foreign Trade and Investment Agency (AWEX), on November 27 signed a letter of intent (LOI) to initiate cooperation in trade promotion between the two sides.
Despite realising that he had been scammed, the tourist still paid the fare, took a photo of the license plate as evidence and sent a report to the authorities.
Through personal relationships or professional dealings, Chairman of Phuc Son Group Nguyen Van Hau gave a total of over 130 billion VND to local leaders in Vinh Phuc and Quang Ngai provinces. These officials used their positions to execute tasks as requested by Hau, enabling him and Phuc Son Group, as well as Thang Long company, to carry out projects, participate in tenders, and win contracts.
Total tourism revenue is projected to reach 280 trillion VND (10.7 billion USD), with hotel occupancy rates averaging 68% and the sector’s contribution to the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) estimated at 7–7.5%.
Amid complex developments in the region, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel continues to advise Vietnamese citizens who remain in the conflict zone to stay calm, maintain regular contact with the embassy, and strictly follow instructions and warnings from local authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), and the embassy.
Kon Tum aims to eliminate all substandard housing by October 31. Authorities will continue to review and prioritise support for households in serious hardship, especially those who rendered service to the nation, the poor, and victims of Agent Orange, while ensuring transparency and preventing policy abuse.
Vietnam has achieved many remarkable results, such as the smoking rate among adults decreased from 23.8% in 2010 to 20.8% in 2021. The rate of exposure to secondhand smoke decreased from 73.1% to 45.6%.
More than half a century after the war, millions of unexploded bombs and mines remain buried underground, threatening lives and hindering development in many localities.
According to the indictment, during the execution of various projects and procurement packages across the provinces of Vinh Phuc, Quang Ngai, and Phu Tho, Phuc Son Group's Chairman and General Director Nguyen Van Hau, who is also Chairman of the Thang Long investment, trade and real estate JSC, either personally committed, directed subordinates, or worked with partner entities to carry out unlawful activities related bidding and accounting procedures.
According to Ben Tre authorities, the province will continue to strengthen IUU fishing prevention by enforcing central directives and enhancing public awareness and compliance among local fishing communities.
Trial operations at the new public administrative service centres in Thanh Khe and Ngu Hanh Son wards show that the reception and processing of citizens' documents on the new wards’ data system have been smoothly handled by the staff, enabling quick settlement and facilitating easy access to public services for the people.
The event, the 12th of its kind jointly, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium and Chris Geyskens, Chairwoman of the Belgium chapter of the Hoi An – Vietnam Association for Victims of AO/Dioxin.
The Nguyen Du Lao-Vietnamese bilingual school has positioned itself as a prestigious education establishment, nurturing generations of Vietnamese and Lao students while preserving Vietnamese culture and language as well as strengthening the special bonds between the two countries
For households of people with meritorious service and relatives of fallen soldiers, the province supported the construction and renovation of 2,374 houses, achieving 100% of the set target, 342 newly built and 2,032 renovated.
Held under the theme “Pride and Aspiration”, this year's “Glory to Vietnam” programme aimed to inspire the Vietnamese people's ambition to reach new heights during the era of integration and development.
According to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC), this year’s campaign provided long-term aid for 3,785 individuals and organisations. Support included houses, clean water systems, school meal facilities, books, and livelihood assistance, with a total value of more than 118 billion VND.
The programmes have brought about positive changes to rural infrastructure, comprehensively improved the material and spiritual lives of farmers, and contributed to Vietnam's economic restructuring, said PM Pham Minh Chinh.
The festival highlighted the contributions and robust development of Vietnam's revolutionary press over the past century while promoting press products and showcasing the creativity of Vietnamese journalists.
The programme on sustainable poverty reduction has achieved its annual targets for reducing the poverty rate as assigned by the National Assembly and the Government. It has fulfilled five specific objectives and five five-year goals, and met nine out of 12 indicators related to addressing basic social service shortages.
The executive board of the General Association of Vietnamese in Belgium for the 2023-2026 tenure makes debut. (Photo: VNA) 
