Ample room for Vietnam – Switzerland economic cooperation
VOV.VN - More than 150 delegates, including policymakers, economic experts and businesses examined the potential for economic cooperation between Vietnam and Switzerland, at a roundtable discussion held in Zurich on September 8.
In his opening speech, Vietnamese ambassador to Switzerland Phung The Long noted that after more than five decades of bilateral diplomacy, the leaders of Vietnam and Switzerland have agreed to soon bring the two countries’ cooperative relations to new heights amid rapid changes globally.
He revealed that Switzerland in February 2023 adopted the Southeast Asia Strategy for 2023-2026 that identifies Vietnam as the most dynamic economy in Southeast Asia and an increasingly important partner for Switzerland.
Meanwhile, he said the Government of Vietnam always values its friendship and cooperation with Switzerland, considering the European nation one of its important partners in Europe. The two countries are now speeding up negotiations towards signing a Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member.
Joining the discussion virtually, Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass emphasized that relations between the two countries have developed strongly over the past 52 years, not only in the fields of politics and multilateral cooperation, but also in economy, technical assistance, trade, investment, scientific research, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. Regular high-level exchanges between the two countries have established the premise for trade and investment ties to continuously prosper.
The visit to Vietnam in June 2023 by President of the National Council of Switzerland Martin Candinas helped to strengthen good cooperation between the two countries and their legislatures as well, stressed the diplomat.
Delegates agreed that the two sides still have many untapped opportunities and areas for joint development and innovation. They expected that the EFTA agreement would be signed soon so that the business communities can take advantage of opportunities for development cooperation and promote the flow of trade in goods and investment capital between the two sides.
The speakers also exchanged views and discussed the development of a sustainable startup ecosystem in Vietnam, as well as investment opportunities in the country.
The event, part of Vietnam Day 2023, was organized by the Embassy of Vietnam in Switzerland in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, the Swiss-Asia Chamber of Commerce, Bellecapital, Keep It Beautiful Vietnam (KIBV) and the Association of Vietnamese Experts in Switzerland (AIEVS).
