In a recent interview granted to a VOV correspondent in France, Chairwoman of the Switzerland-Vietnam Friendship Association Anjuska Weil, said that since its establishment in November 1982, the association has helped strengthen the relationship between the two countries. Most members of the association are Swiss and they have strongly supported developments in Vietnam and demanded justice for Vietnamese Agent Orange victims.

Reporter: Could you sum up the recent activities of the Switzerland-Vietnam Friendship
Association?

Ms Anjuska Weil: In recent years, the Switzerland-Vietnam Friendship Association has focused on assisting Vietnamese Agent Orange (AO) victims. We have coordinated with a number of Swiss journalists to organise a big exhibition on Vietnamese AO victims in ten cities in Switzerland. We have also held seminars during the sidelines of the exhibition.

Currently, we are talking about Vietnamese AO victims at some schools in Switzerland. We want young Swiss students to learn more about the bad consequences of chemical weapons as well the lingering pain suffered by the Vietnamese AO victims.

Apart from demanding justice for Vietnamese AO victims, we are involved in a project to provide credit loans for elderly people in the central city of Hue and its surrounding areas to help them improve their living conditions.

We have just completed a project to translate some works of Hue poets into foreign languages so that the Swiss can gain a better understanding of Vietnam.

Anjuska Weil

Ms Anjuska Weil: Vietnam’s image has changed with the passage of time. Previously, Vietnam was known to the Swiss as a country experiencing a fierce war and wining a glorious victory. Nowadays, Vietnam has been chosen as a tourist destination by the Swiss. Through their visits to Vietnam, they have learnt more about the country. In particular, more and more Swiss students and researchers like to go to Vietnam. Before travelling to Vietnam they often get first-hand information about Vietnam from our association.

Reporter: In the future, what areas will your association focus on?

Ms Anjuska Weil: We will continue to give priority to assisting Vietnamese AO victims. Switzerland and Vietnam will celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties next year. On the occasion, a delegation of the Switzerland-Vietnam Friendship Association will pay a visit to Vietnam.

Meanwhile, we will also invite President of the Vietnam-France Friendship Association, Nguyen Huy Quang, to visit Switzerland to discuss orientations of our association in the future.

Reporter: Thank you.