Chairman Man met with Maja Riniker, President of the National Council, and Dr. Andrea Caroni, President of the Council of States, as part of his working visit to Switzerland to attend the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments hosted by the Inter-Parliamentary Uinon (IPU).

At both meetings, Chairman Man expressed satisfaction with the rapid development of Vietnam–Switzerland relations, especially after the official elevation to a Comprehensive Partnership in January 2025 during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Switzerland.

He thanked Switzerland for its valued support for Vietnam’s development efforts and shared key milestones from nearly 40 years of the country’s socio-economic progress, underlining the National Assembly’s vital role in legislative reform and governance.

stressed the importance of increasing high-level and multi-tier delegation exchanges, enhancing cooperation between specialised committees, friendship parliamentary groups, young MPs, and female legislators. He also proposed stronger collaboration in lawmaking, particularly in sectors like finance, banking, fintech, blockchain, and digital assets.

He urged early negotiations on a Vietnam–Switzerland Investment Protection Agreement and a bilateral tax treaty, and called for the resumption of talks on the Vietnam–EFTA Free Trade Agreement in 2025, of which Switzerland is a key member.

President of the Swiss National Council Maja Riniker highlighted the value of sustained parliamentary exchanges in strengthening overall bilateral relations and invited Chairman Man to visit Switzerland in 2026, on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Welcoming Chairman Man’s participation in the 6th World Conference of the Speakers of Parliaments, Riniker said that inter-parliamentary dialogue is increasingly rare globally, and that this conference offers a valuable platform for legislatures to seek joint solutions to global challenges. She affirmed that both countries share a commitment to peaceful dialogue in resolving international issues and that Switzerland is eager to expand effective cooperation with Vietnam via parliamentary channels.

Meanwhile, President of the Swiss Council of States Andrea Caroni reaffirmed Switzerland’s strong interest in advancing ties with Vietnam, especially through inter-parliamentary cooperation. He underlined the importance of sharing legislative experiences and enhancing legal systems to shape governance models in line with global trends.

Caroni announced that negotiations on the Vietnam–EFTA Free Trade Agreement are expected to resume in September 2025, and expressed hope that discussions on a bilateral FTA could also be launched soon.

On regional and international issues of mutual concern, both sides reaffirmed their support for resolving disputes and conflicts through peaceful means, based on respect for international law and the UN Charter, contributing to peace, stability, and sustainable development globally and regionally.

They also agreed to enhance consultations and coordinate positions at multilateral forums, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Francophone Parliamentary Assembly (APF), and other regional mechanisms.

On this occasion, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man extended a formal invitation to President Andrea Caroni to pay an official visit to Vietnam at a mutually convenient time.

Vietnam-Switzerland comprehensive partnership at a glance

VOV.VN - National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man is paying a working visit to Switzerland from July 27 – 30 where he is scheduled to attend the sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament and engage in bilateral activities. Let’s have a look at the comprehensive partnership between the two countries.