Issues of Armenian-Belgian cooperation in Brussels were discussed by  Serzh Sargsyan and Charles Michel

ArmInfo.As part of his working visit to the Kingdom of Belgium, President Serzh Sargsyan met today with Prime Minister Charles Michel. Expressing gratitude for  the warm reception, President Sargsyan stressed that Armenia is  interested in the activation of the Armenian-Belgian dialogue, making  various mutually beneficial cooperation with friendly Belgium.

The interlocutors expressed their common opinion that over the past  25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Armenia and  Belgium have developed relations in many areas, based on mutual trust  and mutual understanding. President Sargsyan and Prime Minister  Michel expressed a common opinion that this meeting is a good  opportunity to outline the ways of further cooperation. They stressed  the importance of expanding cooperation also on international  platforms, in particular within the EU.  Referring to the Armenia-EU  relations, Serzh Sargsyan expressed confidence that the signing of  the Agreement on Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership will open a  new chapter in the history of bilateral relations and create new  opportunities for further deepening of relations with the European  Union and member states, including Belgium. From the point of view of  promoting the agenda of bilateral Armenian-Belgian cooperation, the  President of the Republic stressed the importance of intensifying  high- level political contacts and expressed the hope that the  dialogue between Armenia and her friend and reliable partner Belgium  will be continuous, and mutual visits will be more active.

At the meeting, President Sargsyan stressed that Belgium for Armenia  is of special importance also because it gave shelter to our  compatriots who have escaped from genocide, whose generations form  the basis of the Armenian community of Belgium. The President  expressed his gratitude to Charles Michel for his statement on June  18, 2015, which was followed by the adoption on July 23 of the House  of Representatives of the resolution recognizing the Armenian  Genocide, which completed the process of recognition of the Armenian  Genocide by Belgium: in 1998 the Belgian Senate adopted a resolution  on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide . The two sides spoke  with mutual respect of the Armenian community of Belgium, underscored  its role in intensifying bilateral relations.

Serzh Sargsyan and Charles Michel discussed the issues related to the  Armenian-Belgian trade and economic relations and cooperation in a  number of mutually beneficial sectors. The President suggested that  Belgian companies consider the possibility to develop their  activities in the Republic of Armenia, taking into account the  favorable investment climate formed in the country, as well as  participation in various integration processes. Armenia's active  membership in the international organization of the Francophonie is  also, in the opinion of President Serzh Sargsyan, a good opportunity  for deepening cooperation with Belgium in the structures of the  Francophonie in the spheres of science, culture, urban management and  other branches. Noting that Armenia will host the 17th summit of the  Organization in 2018, the President expressed his gratitude to  Belgium for support and, taking the opportunity, invited Prime  Minister Michel to Armenia to participate in the summit scheduled for  October 2018.