Austrian President Heinz Fischer has expressed his belief in the future of the development of cooperation and friendship between his country and Vietnam.

While receiving Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Thiep, who presented his credentials on May 17, the President said he hoped the relationship would see new development steps in 2012, when the countries celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

The President recalled his memory of participating in the European movement against the war in Vietnam when he was younger, as well as his impressions of the visit to Austria in 2008 by President Nguyen Minh Triet.

He congratulated the Vietnamese people on their achievements recorded in national development and international integration.

Ambassador Nguyen Thiep expressed his pleasure with important progress in the two countries’ friendship and cooperation since the visit to Austria by President Triet.

He assured his host that Vietnam, with its foreign policy of multilateralisation and diversification, would continue developing multifaceted cooperation with Austria.

Earlier, Ambassador Nguyen Thiep, who is also head of the Vietnamese permanent delegation to international organisations in Vienna, presented credentials to the head of the United Nations office and the general director of Vienna-based international organisations./.