Standing Deputy Prime Minister meets Swiss President Guy Parmelin
VGP - Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh paid courtesy calls on Swiss President Guy Parmelin and President of the National Council Pierre-André Page in Bern, on January 28, as part of his working visit to the European nation.
Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh (L) pays a courtesy call on Swiss President Guy Parmelin, Bern, January 28, 2025 - Photo: VGP
The Swiss leaders spoke highly of Viet Nam's increasingly important international role and standing, commending the country's achievements in socio-economic development and international integration.
Nguyen, for his part, unveiled key outcomes of the 14th National Party Congress, reiterating Viet Nam's consistent policy of attaching importance to the friendly relations and cooperation with Switzerland.
He urged Switzerland to foster stronger ties with Viet Nam in developing the international financial center, particularly in institutional building, experience sharing, and high-quality human resource training.
Nguyen called on both countries to step up collaboration in trade and investment, science and technology, green transition, renewable energy, and other fields, contributing to Viet Nam's goal of achieving double-digit economic growth.
The two sides discussed measures to develop their bilateral relations into a new stage of more substantive and effective development.
They vowed to strengthen all-level delegation exchanges, especially at high level, effectively implement the comprehensive partnership framework and encourage the Swiss Parliament to soon establish the Switzerland–Viet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Group to enhance parliamentary cooperation.
Both sides underscored the need to enhance political trust and expand collaboration in potential areas for the benefit of each country as well as for peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and the world.
They pledged to promptly complete negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between Viet Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a key member, in 2026, with a view to opening up new opportunities for trade and investment ties while strengthening links between the two countries' financial centers.
Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh (L) meets with Swiss President of the National Council Pierre-André Page, Bern, January 28, 2025 - Photo: VGP
The same day, the Standing Deputy Prime Minister held working sessions with leaders of the Swiss–Viet Nam Economic Forum (SVEF), the Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC), and representatives of enterprises in the finance and technology sectors.
Swiss business leaders expressed their strong impression of Viet Nam's economic growth momentum, welcoming the policy to establish the International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang and affirming their readiness to share experience in this field.
In reply, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh expressed his hope that Swiss enterprises would actively expand investment in Viet Nam, asserting that Viet Nam stands ready to handle barriers so that Swiss businesses can invest in the country in a long-term and effective manner./.
