Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (L) and Minister of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Johann Schneider-Amman (Source: VNA) Geneva (VNA) – Deputy PrimeMinister Vuong Dinh Hue began a working visit to Switzerland on September 13,aiming to boost political ties and bilateral trade.
At a working session with Minister ofEconomic Affairs, Education and Research Johann Schneider-Amman, Hue suggestedboth countries intensify cooperation in all fields, especially politics,diplomacy, trade, investment, education and training.
He thanked Switzerland for the commitment toprovide 90 million CHF (93.2 million USD) in official development assistance(ODA) for Vietnam from 2017-2020.
The Vietnamese Government will coordinatewith the Swiss side to build projects to use the ODA effectively, he added.
Minister Johann Schneider-Amman affirmedthat his country wants to strengthen relations with Vietnam, which has anincreasingly important role in Asia-Pacific.
Both sides agreed to speed up thenegotiation process of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EuropeanFree Trade Association, which includes Switzerland, Norway, Iceland andLiechtenstein, and intensify trade and investment promotion activities.
They pledged to facilitate cooperationbetween the two countries’ enterprises, especially in fields such as finance,banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals, hi-tech agriculture, and tourism.
Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and Head of the Economic Affairs and Taxation Committee Susanne Leutenegger Oberholzer (Source: VNA) While meeting Susanne LeuteneggerOberholzer, Head of the Economic Affairs and Taxation Committee under the SwissNational Council, Deputy PM Hue lauded the country’s consideration of Vietnamas a priority partner in development cooperation policy.
He affirmed that projects funded bySwitzerland have been implemented effectively, contributing to Vietnam’sdevelopment and international integration.
The host confirmed that she will continueencouraging Swiss firms to operate and invest in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese Deputy PM also had a workingsession with Claude Béglé, a member of the Swiss National Council’s ForeignPolicy Commission.
Claude Béglé said he is willing to supportVietnam in human resources training, sustainable development, implementation ofPublic Private Partnership projects, and start-ups.
As SymbioSwiss Executive Chairman and CEO,he introduced several clean water treatment and agricultural projects that hewants to be carried out in Vietnam.
While in Switzerland, Deputy PM Hue also hadmeetings with representatives of leading Swiss enterprises, during which he saidthe Vietnamese Government creates favourable conditions for foreign investors and detailed thecountry’s preferential policies.
Hue is scheduled to visit internationalorganisations located in Geneva of Switzerland, and visit Belgium and Slovakia duringthe Europe trip lasting until September 21.-VNA
VNA
