Geneva (VNA) – Switzerland always wishes to strengthen effective cooperation with Vietnam through the parliamentary channel, President of the Swiss National Council Maja Riniker stated at a meeting with Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man in Geneva on July 29.
The top legislator of Vietnam is in Switzerland to attend the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament and conduct bilateral activities.
Expressing his delight at the strong progress of bilateral ties, including the upgrade of their relationship to a comprehensive partnership in January this year, Chairman Man noted that during his trip, Vietnam has held a roundtable on international financial centre development to learn from Switzerland’s experience in this area.
To further deepen the partnership, he proposed the two sides increase exchanges of high-level and all-level delegations, particularly between specialised committees, parliamentary friendship groups, young parliamentarians, and women lawmakers. He also called for closer cooperation in legislation, especially in the fields of finance, banking, international financial centres, digital banking, digital assets, blockchain, and fintech.
The NA leader urged both countries to soon negotiate and sign a Vietnam – Switzerland investment protection agreement and a bilateral tax treaty, and to resume talks on a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA – comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) within 2025.
He suggested enhancing consultation at multilateral and regional parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF).
Chairman Man invited his host to visit Vietnam in 2026 on the occasion of the 55th founding anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties, and the host also extended an invitation to him to visit Switzerland again in the same year.
On this occasion, the NA Chairman also thanked the Swiss authorities for supporting the Vietnamese expat community to deeply integrate into the local society, thereby making positive contributions to the host nation’s socio-economic development and the bilateral partnership.
Praising the achievements in Vietnam – Switzerland relations and congratulating Vietnam on its significant attainments and stature in the world, Riniker voiced her hope that the two countries will soon conclude a Vietnam – EFTA free trade agreement.
She stressed that maintaining regular meetings between the two parliaments is crucial to strengthening bilateral ties.
Riniker noted in a global context where democratic dialogue through the parliamentary channel remains limited, this world conference offers a valuable opportunity for parliaments to meet and seek solutions to global common challenges.
She affirmed that both Switzerland and Vietnam share a strong desire to address international issues through peaceful dialogue./.
