At the reception (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – As a friend, a reliable partnerand an active and responsible member of the international community, Vietnamwishes to enhance cooperation with Switzerland in all areas, President Vo VanThuong told President of the National Council ofSwitzerland Martin Candinas during a reception in Hanoi on June 30.
President Thuong suggested Candinas back the strengthening of bilateralties across the board, especially in politics-diplomacy, economy, trade andinvestment and at global and regional forums.
Vietnam is making strong efforts toimprove investment environment, thus creating more favourable conditions forforeign investors, including those from Switzerland, he said.
According to him, Switzerland is strong in finance,banking, manufacturing and renewable energy, which are also fields of Vietnam’s demand. He wished that with its role and position, Switzerlandwould urge other member states to sôn conclude negotiations andsign the Vietnam-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Free Trade Agreement tostep up the pillar of investment and trade cooperation between the twocountries in the coming time.
He thanked the Swiss Government for actively assistingVietnam in ODA supply, and hailed effective bilateral collaboration in tertiaryeducation and wished that the two countries would further push forwardpeople-to-people exchange, laying a solid foundation for bilateral ties in thefuture.
Candinas, for his part,said Switzerland always considers Vietnam a priority country indeveloping cooperative relations.
Agreeing with the Vietnamese President’s proposals, hesaid Swiss firms wish to expand long-term operations in Vietnam.
About the Vietnam-EFTA free trade agreement, he said relevantagencies are actively completing talks to soon sign the document.
Switzerland will further step up coordination with Vietnam in the field of education, especiallyvocational training, he said, adding that with its strengths in automation and robotics,Switzerland is ready to partner with Vietnam in industrial production,contributing to deepening bilateral partnership in the time to come./.
