President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right, centre) and his Swiss counterpart Guy Parmelin (left, centre) at the talks in Bern city on November 26. (Photo: VNA) President Phuc, who is paying an official visit to theEuropean country, affirmed that the State and people of Vietnam always keep inmind and treasure the precious support and assistance that Switzerland hasgiven to their struggle for national independence in the past as well asnational development at present.
The two leaders noted with satisfaction that over the last halfcentury, the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countrieshave been growing well in multiple fields.
They discussed areas of cooperation and reachedconsensus on many measures to advance Vietnam - Switzerland relations. They agreedto increase exchanges and meetings to further intensify mutual understandingand trust and promote bilateral cooperation in all aspects.
President Parmelin highly valued Vietnam’s breakthroughachievements in socio-economic development and COVID-19 containment, stressingthat Vietnam is an important economic partner of Switzerland in Southeast Asia.
Asking the Government of Switzerland to encourage Swiss enterprisesto invest in Vietnam, President Phuc noted that the Southeast Asian nation isworking hard to improve the business - investment climate and create favourableconditions for foreign firms to operate in the long term.
The leaders agreed to make efforts to soon concludenegotiations on a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European FreeTrade Association (EFTA). They also expressed their delight at the progress in scientific- technological cooperation and agreed to further strengthen links in science -technology and education - training.
President Phuc thanked the Swiss Government for providingODA for Vietnam. Meanwhile, the Swiss President assessed Vietnam as aneffective ODA using partner, adding that the Swiss Government has decidedto continue to provide Vietnam with 70 million CHF (over 75.6million USD) worth of ODA in the 2021-2024 period.
The Vietnamese leader thanked the Swiss Government forits donation of medical equipment valued at about 5 million USD for Vietnam's COVID-19prevention and control on the occasion of Swiss Vice President Ignazio Casis’svisit to Vietnam in August. He proposed the two sides promote cooperationbetween their enterprises and research facilities in the development,production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and treatment drugs.
President Phuc thanks and proposed the Swiss Government continue creating favourableconditions for the overseas Vietnamese community to well integrate into the host society.
The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation and mutualsupport at multilateral forums and international organisations such as theUnited Nations and the Asia - Europe cooperation mechanism.
Vietnam agreed to help Switzerland strengthen itsrelationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Regarding the East Sea issue, Switzerland stressed the importance of ensuring freedomof navigation, compliance with international law, and settlement of disputes viapeaceful measures based on transparent dialogue and trust building./.
VNA
