Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) welcomes President of the Swiss National Council Martin Candinas in Hanoi on June 30 (Photo: VNA)Chinh called for Swissinvestments in such areas as finance-banking, insurance, manufacturing,pharmaceuticals, agricultural processing, renewable energy and tourism.
He noted his belief that Candinas’s officialvisit will be a milestone, helping to open up a new page in theVietnam-Switzerland cooperation.
The two leaders shared the view that the bilateralcooperation is developing positively in different spheres, from politics-diplomacy toeconomy, development cooperation, science-technology, and education-training.
Switzerland is now an important economic partner ofVietnam in Europe, ranking 22nd out of 141 countries and territories investing inthe Southeast Asian nation, with 206 FDI projects worth over 1.9 billion USD. From 1991 to 2021, Switzerland provided about 600 million USD in officialdevelopment assistance (ODA) for Vietnam.
The two countries have maintained the exchange of all-level delegations even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they said, adding thatVietnam and Switzerland have also closely coordinated with each other atmultilateral forums and international organisations, especially the UnitedNations.
Chinh affirmed that Vietnam always attachesimportance to the friendship and cooperation with Switzerland, and used this occasion to thank the National Council of Switzerland for its support and joining hands with the Swiss government to boost the bilateral ties over the past time.
He suggested the two sides further step up delegation and people-to-peopleexchanges, and tighten their coordination at multilateral forums for peace,prosperity and stability in the region and the world.
Pointing out global uncertainties, the Vietnamese leaderstressed the need to promote international solidarity and multilateralism, andthat Vietnam and Switzerland need to cooperate more closely in that context.
He described economic-trade cooperation an importantpillar of the bilateral ties, where ample room remains, and emphasised that theVietnamese government welcomes and pledges to create optimal conditions forSwiss enterprises to expand investment and run long-term business in Vietnam.
The PM also called on Switzerland to enhance theirsupport for Vietnamese small-and medium-sized enterprises in terms oftechnology, professional knowledge, and capacity improvement.
He suggested Switzerland continue pushing ahead withnegotiations for a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European FreeTrade Association (EFTA) for mutual benefits.
Vietnam is willing to coordinate with Switzerlandand other EFTA members in narrowing the gaps of pending issues between the twosides, Chinh said.
The meeting bewteen PM Pham Minh Chinh and President of the Swiss National Council Martin Candinas in Hanoi on June 30 (Photo: VNA)Vietnam and Switzerland should strengthencooperation in other fields like innovation, digital transformation, greentransition, circular economy and sharing economy, he said, suggestingSwitzerland share its experience in high-quality education and grant more scholarshipsto Vietnamese students.
He called on the National Council of Switzerland to further supportand create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the European country tostablise their lives and integrate well into the host society.
For his part, Candinas expressedhis good impression on the beauty of Vietnam as well as its people and culture,saying the Southeast Asian nation is developing dynamically with new products, includingelectronic vehicles.
The Swiss leader told the PM that heand National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue had discussed measures to boost thebilateral cooperation, especially via the legislative channel.
He also had a working session with the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade to seek ways to develop the bilateral friendship and cooperation in a more practical and effective manner.
Candinas said that Vietnam plays a strategic role in Switzerland’srelations with Southeast Asia. According to the leader, Swiss businesses,including Nestle, are pleased with the Vietnamese business environment and planto continue making long-term investment in the country.
Switzerland will continue prioritising Vietnam in developmentassistance, and promoting cooperation in personnel training with the country,he said, adding that Switzerland hopes for the signing of the free tradeagreement between Vietnam and the EFTA next year.
At the meeting, the twosides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of sharedconcern.
Chinh spoke highly of Switzerland’s active contributions tomaintaining peace, security and development in the world.
Candinas expressed his support for Vietnam’s and ASEAN’s stanceon ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the EastSea, settling disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law andthe 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), fullyimplementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), soonreaching a practical and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC)./.
VNA
