TALLINN, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid met on Tuesday with King Philippe of Belgium, who is here for a working visit, also his first visit to Estonia.
The two sides discussed bilateral relations, opportunities for digital cooperation, defence cooperation, and relevant European Union (EU) issues.
After the meeting at Kadriorg, King Philippe visited the e-Estonia briefing center in Ulemiste near the Tallinn airport.
In the afternoon, King Philippe arrived at Tapa Army Base to meet with the detachment of Belgian soldiers serving in the Enhanced Forward Presence mission of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Belgium has been participating in the NATO mission since 2017. It also deploys about 250 soldiers to Estonia until May of this year, said the Estonian president's office.
Estonia considers Belgium a reliable partner in the EU and NATO. The two countries have long-standing ties in defence cooperation, and excellent cooperation in international organizations, said the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
King Philippe was accompanied by Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, and of Defense Didier Reynders who held a trilateral meeting at the Estonian president's office Kadriorg with Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser and Estonian Defence Minister Juri Luik, according to the schedule.
