Permanent Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man (R) and Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Alexander Schallenberg (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Permanent Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man expressed his delight at the development of Vietnam-Austria ties during a reception in Hanoi on April 18 for Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Alexander Schallenberg.
Man said both sides have maintained the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially those at high level. Two-way trade hit 3.35 billion USD in 2021, up 5.5% annually. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the figure hit 2.79 billion USD last year, down 16.7% year-on-year.
He expressed his belief that the visit by the Austrian minister and his entourage of representatives of over 20 major Austrian enterprises will create a new driving force for the bilateral relations in various areas, particularly in economy, trade and investment.
He suggested that with strengths in digital economy, green economy, circular economy, education and vocational training, Austria should step up collaboration with Vietnam in these fields.
Man hailed the effective collaboration between the two legislatures, manifested by the regular exchange of delegations at all levels and sharing of experience in law building and supervision.
He noted that the Austrian parliament has established the Austria-South Asia/Southeast Asia Friendship Parliamentary Group to enhance cooperation with parliaments of countries in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. The two parliaments also coordinate and support each other at regional and international parliamentary forums, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP), he said.
The host proposed that the two sides increase the exchange of all-level delegations, especially those at high level, to create momentum for cooperation across the board. They should also continue offering mutual support in multilateral parliamentary cooperation mechanisms.
Vietnam always values the ties with Austria and the European Union, he said, wishing that the Austrian parliament would soon approve the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement and push for the European Commission’s early removal of yellow card warning against Vietnam’s aquatic products.
Man also suggested that Austria continue backing Vietnam's stance on security and safety of navigation and overflight in the East Sea and the peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, for the common interests of countries in the international community, contributing to maintaining an environment of peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
Schallenberg, for his part, informed the host about the outcomes of his meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his talks with Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and working sessions with several Vietnamese ministries and agencies.
He said his visit aims to seek cooperation opportunities, contributing to further propelling forward bilateral ties in various areas, particularly in economy, trade and investment.
Austria is always ready to cooperate with Vietnam in fields of its strength, he said, adding that the European country wants to reinforce ties with Vietnam, its top important partner in Southeast Asia.
Agreeing with the Vietnamese leader’s proposals, he affirmed that Austria shares the common concern with Vietnam in the geopolitical issue, especially stability in the region to fuel economic development.
He expressed his belief that with a shared viewpoint and vision, Austria and Vietnam are friendly partners of each other.
In such a spirit, the minister stressed that bilateral policy exchange activities, both through parliamentary and other channels, will keep growing in the coming time./.
