Leaders welcome Austrian President

• State President appreciates Austrian ODA for Vietnam

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made the affirmation at a reception for President Fischer in Hanoi on May 29.

He spoke highly of Fischer’s official visit to Vietnam to mark the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Austria and Vietnam, considering it an important political event in the traditional friendship and fruitful cooperation between the two countries.

The Party chief introduced his guest to Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development and proactive international integration adopted at the 11th National Party Congress last year.

For his part, the Austrian President said he is impressed by the great achievements the Vietnamese people have recorded in national industrialization and modernisation process under the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Austria highly values Vietnam’s increasing role and position in the region and the world, he affirmed.

Fischer expressed hope to consolidate and further develop the bilateral friendship and cooperation in the future.

** On the same day, President Fischer met with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, who affirmed that the Vietnamese Government supports and creates conditions for Austrian businesses to invest in Vietnam.

The PM highly valued the results of the talks between President Fischer and his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang, especially the signing of various cooperative documents between the two countries.

He suggested Austria assist Vietnam in human resource training, science and technology, infrastructure investment and energy.

PM Dung said he hopes that Austria will continue providing official development assistance (ODA) capital for Vietnam, focusing on health, environment and climate change adaptation.

While suggesting Austria support Vietnam in fostering cooperation with the European Union, the Government leader assured his guest that Vietnam is ready to help Austria boost ties with other ASEAN countries.

President Fischer said Austria wants to promote cooperation with Vietnam, especially in trade, investment and human resource training.

** Later in the day, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung met with Austrian President Heinz Fischer. The two leaders agreed to step up parliamentary cooperation through the exchange of visits by parliamentarians and the sharing of experience.