Economic and trade links represent important part of ties with Switzerland

PM Chinh hosted a meeting on June 30 with President of the National Council of Switzerland Martin Candinas, who is on an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

The two leaders assessed that the joint co-operation relationship has developed positively over recent times in fields such as politics, diplomacy, economics, development co-operation, science - technology, and education and training.

Switzerland represents an important economic partner of the nation in Europe, ranking 22nd out of 141 countries and territories with the most investment projects in the country, particularly as total FDI investment stands at US$1,903 billion with 206 projects.

From 1991 to 2021, Switzerland provided roughly US$600 million in ODA to support the nation.

PM Chinh emphasized that the country persistently and consistently carried out a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, co-operation and development, multilateralisation, diversification, comprehensive, and extensive international integration.

Affirming that the Vietnamese side always places importance on the friendship and cooperation with Switzerland, PM Chinh thanked the Swiss Government for their support in promoting ties with the nation.

In order to increase political understanding whilst boosting trust and creating the driving force for multifaceted collaboration between the two countries, PM Chinh suggested that the two sides continue to intensify delegation exchange at all levels, people-to-people exchanges, and closely co-operate at multilateral forums as a means of contributing to peace, prosperity, and stability in the region and the world.

NA Chairman Hue asked Switzerland to promote, support, and encourage Swiss enterprises to invest and conduct business in the Vietnamese market, especially in areas where Switzerland boasts strengths and the Vietnamese side has needs such as finance, banking, insurance, manufacturing industry, pharmaceuticals, agricultural product processing, renewable energy, and tourism services.

The Vietnamese Government welcomes and pledges to create favourable conditions for Swiss businesses to expand their investment and long-term business in the nation.

The Vietnamese cabinet leader also asked Switzerland to strengthen support for Vietnamese small and medium enterprises in technology, access to expertise, while improving capacity building, boosting technology transfer and industrial co-operation, and offering commercial opportunities in the fields such as international competitiveness of businesses and digital transformation industry.

The Vietnamese Government leader asked Switzerland, as an important voice in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), to continue accelerating the early conclusion of negotiations for Vietnam-EFTA moving forward with balanced and mutually beneficial results.

The country stands ready to co-ordinate with Switzerland, as well as other EFTA member countries, to soon close the gap on the remaining issues between the two sides.

Chinh thanked Switzerland for its provision of ODA for Vietnam, and suggested the two sides closely coordinate in the implementation of the Switzerland-Vietnam Development Cooperation Programme for the 2021-2024 period, with an ODA budget of 78 million CHF (US$76 million), with priorities given to improving competitiveness for the private economic sector, developing the knowledge-based economy, and responding to new challenges in development and climate change.

Vietnam and Switzerland should strengthen cooperation in other fields like innovation, digital transformation, green transition, circular economy and sharing economy, he said, suggesting Switzerland share its experience in high-quality education and grant more scholarships to Vietnamese students.   

He called on the National Council of Switzerland to further support and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the European country to stablise their lives and integrate well into the host society.

In response, Candinas expressed his 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, including electronic vehicles.

The Swiss leader told the PM that he and NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue had discussed a score of measures to boost the bilateral 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’s relations with Southeast Asia. According to the leader, Swiss businesses, including Nestle, are pleased with the Vietnamese business environment and plan to continue making long-term investment in the country.

Switzerland will continue prioritising Vietnam in development assistance, and promoting cooperation in personnel training with the country, he said, adding that Switzerland hopes for the signing of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EFTA next year.
At the meeting, both sides also compared notes on regional and international issues of shared concern.
The Vietnamese Government chief applauded Switzerland’s active contributions to maintaining peace, security and development in the world.

Candinas expressed his support for Vietnam’s and ASEAN’s stance on ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, settling disputes by peaceful measures in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), soon reaching a practical and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).