Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has always attachedimportance to, consolidated and strengthened the relations of traditionalfriendship and cooperation with Switzerland, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucstated on July 10.

During a reception in Hanoi for visiting member of the SwissFederal Council and head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs,Education and Research Guy Parmelin, the PM also thanked Switzerland for itssupport to Vietnam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the United NationsSecurity Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.

The Swiss official spoke highly of the fine outcomes of thebilateral relations over the recent past and held that there is still room forfurther development. He also highlighted that many Swiss firms have landedtheir investment in Vietnam and created over 20,000 jobs for local workers.

Touching upon the negotiations on the free trade agreement(FTA) between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), heexpressed his hope that the two sides can soon sign the document.

In reply, PM Phuc highly valued efforts by both sides innarrowing the gap in outstanding issues, and asked the EFTA to take a morepractical approach. He also asked the Swiss official to support and furtherpush up investment from his country to Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Government is striving to improve theinvestment and business environment to further facilitate the long-termoperation by foreign firms, including Swiss ones, PM Phuc stressed and thankedSwitzerland for providing official development assistance to Vietnam in variousfields.

The Government leader also spoke highly of Switzerland’sactive contributions to the maintenance of peace, security and development inthe world, especially its continued voice for support of Vietnam and ASEAN’sjust stance on settling disputes on the East Sea by peaceful means, on thebasis of the international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Conventionon the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).-VNA