Vietnam desires to enhance comprehensive ties with Switzerland

President Thuong suggested Candinas support the enhancement of bilateral ties, especially in politics-diplomacy, economy, trade and investment and at global and regional forums.

Vietnam is stepping up efforts to ameliorate investment environment, thus creating more favourable conditions for foreign investors, including those from Switzerland, he said.

Switzerland is strong in finance, banking, manufacturing and renewable energy, which are also fields of Vietnam’s demand, Thuong told his guest.

He wished that with its role and position, Switzerland would urge other member states to soon finalize negotiations and sign the Vietnam-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Free Trade Agreement to step up the pillar of investment and trade cooperation between the two countries in the time to come.

He thanked the Swiss Government for actively assisting Vietnam in ODA supply, and hailed effective bilateral collaboration in tertiary education and wished that the two countries would further push forward people-to-people exchange, laying a solid foundation for bilateral ties in the future.

Candinas, in turn, said Switzerland always regards Vietnam a priority country in developing cooperative relations.

Agreeing with the Vietnamese President’s proposals, he said Swiss firms wish to expand long-term operations in Vietnam.

Regarding the Vietnam-EFTA free trade agreement, he said relevant agencies are actively finalizing talks to soon sign the document.

Switzerland will further boost coordination with Vietnam in the field of education, especially vocational training, he said, adding that with its strengths in automation and robotics, Switzerland stays ready to partner with Vietnam in industrial production, thus contributing to deepening bilateral partnership in the time ahead.