President receives outgoing Slovakian, Austrian ambassadors
VOV.VN - President Tran Dai Quang hosted separate receptions on August 29 in Hanoi for Slovakian Ambassador Igor Pacolak and Austrian Ambassador Thomas Loidl who came to bid farewell to the State leader.
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He suggested the two sides further enhance the role of the Vietnam-Slovakia Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation, intensify the exchange of visits by ministries, agencies and businesses, and promote trade and investment to further elevate two-way trade in the years to come.
President Quang urged Slovakia to continue supporting and boosting the comprehensive cooperative partnership between Vietnam and the European Union (EU), prompt the early signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and recognize Vietnam as a market economy.
Quang affirmed his nation's readiness to assist Slovakia in promoting ties with ASEAN and its member states, adding that the country promises all possible optimal support to Slovakian firms to seek business opportunities in the country.
He recommended Slovakian enterprises to invest in the areas where Vietnam has great demand such as renewable energy, infrastructure, environmental protection, food processing, and food safety and hygiene.
He said he hopes that the Slovakian government will continue creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese people to integrate into the host country, thus helping to deepen mutual understanding between the two nations.
Pacolak, in turn said during his tenure in Vietnam, the two countries has seen more than 30 visits from the deputy ministerial level upwards and signed about 20 cooperation agreements. Vietnam currently ranks 14th in the list of Slovakia’s trade partners.
He thanked Vietnam for supporting Slovakia at international organizations and affirmed that the European country always backs Vietnam – an active member at international organisations.
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Austria is the sixth largest European exporter of Vietnam and is running 28 projects valued at US$138 million, ranking 39th among 116 countries and territories investing in the country.
He took the occasion to thank the Austrian Government for providing Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the fields of railways, healthcare and vocational training. Austria-funded programmes and projects have been productively contributing to Vietnam’s socio-economic development and international integration efforts.
The Vietnamese State leader asked the two sides to increase visit exchanges, especially high-level ones, together with cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and join hands in celebrations of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties to further the bilateral ties.
He asked the diplomat to convey his invitation to visit Vietnam to President Alexander Van der Bellen.
President Quang also suggested Austria to urge the European Union (EU) to soon sign and ratify the European Union-Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) as the document will open up new cooperation, investment and business opportunities for their businesses.
Ambassador Thomas Loidl stressed that Austria has over the past 45 years proved itself as a very trusted partner of Vietnam and it focused on political ties and economic and trade cooperation.
He underlined the need for both sides to conduct more high-level visits to enhance their relations while emphasizing the important role of cultural cooperation and exchange.
Thomas Loidl also thanked Vietnam for its support for his country's initiatives at international forums and organizations and pledged his best efforts to augment cooperation between Austria and Vietnam.