Vietnam greatly values time-honoured friendship with Austria
VOV.VN - Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed Vietnam’s recognition of importance to fostering its traditional friendship and all-around cooperation with Austria during his phone talks with Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria Alexander Schallenberg on June 1.
Amid both nations celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2022,
The two sides rejoiced over the positive developments in the bilateral relationship through the exchange of delegations and high-level meetings that were constantly maintained.
Austria is currently among the 10 largest trading partners of Vietnam in the European Union (EU) with last year’s two-way trade turnover hitting close to US$ 3.5 billion, while bilateral connections in science - technology, culture and development cooperation between the two countries continue to make considerable progress.
The pair consented to maintain delegation exchanges and meetings at all levels, and coordinate in launching a wide range of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in a bid to make the Vietnam-Austria cooperation more dynamic, practical and effective in the time ahead.
The two sides will intensify trade-investment promotion activities, and expand cooperation in fields of Austria’s strengths and Vietnam’s needs such as renewable energy, climate change response, waste treatment and processing industry.
They also concurred to boost closer coordination to successfully organise the upcoming session of the Vietnam-Austria Joint Committee on Economic-Trade Cooperation, while optimizing opportunities and benefits brought by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
Minister Son suggested that the Austrian Government raise a voice to urge the Austrian Parliament to early ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
Both sides will work hand in hand and offer mutual support at multilateral forums and organisations such as the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and ASEAN-EU.