Swiss President to pay official visit to Viet Nam this week

The visit will be made at the invitation of General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse.

During his visit to Ha Noi, President Parmelin is expected to hold talks with General Secretary and President To Lam and meet with other senior Vietnamese leaders, as well as representatives of the Vietnamese and Swiss business communities.

This visit takes place on the occasion of the 55th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Viet Nam and follows the recent establishment of the Comprehensive Partnership between the two countries.

It will provide an opportunity for both sides to further strengthen bilateral relations and advance cooperation in key areas, including trade and investment, science and technology, innovation, finance and sustainable development.

The two sides will also exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest. The Vietnamese and Swiss leaders have identified the strengthening of economic, trade and investment cooperation as key priorities for the bilateral relationship.

A major highlight of the visit will be the signing of the EFTA–Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement, following the successful conclusion of negotiations in July 2026.

Switzerland is one of the four EFTA Member States. The agreement is expected to provide further momentum to trade and investment relations between Switzerland and Viet Nam.

During the visit, both sides will sign Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), Letters of Intent (LOIs) and other agreements and instruments in order to further strengthen the framework for bilateral cooperation.

Relations between Viet Nam and Switzerland have advanced strongly over the past 55 years, extending beyond the political and multilateral spheres to encompass trade and investment, economic cooperation, science, research and innovation, education, culture and people-to-people contacts.

The two countries have further strengthened their relations in recent years through high-level exchanges and cooperation in a growing number of areas. In January 2025, Switzerland and Viet Nam agreed in principle to establish a Comprehensive Partnership, with a view to deepening cooperation in areas including innovation, green finance, science, technology and education.

In June 2026, the Swiss Federal Council approved a Joint Declaration setting out the foundations of this Comprehensive Partnership.

Economic relations have also developed significantly. Bilateral trade reached US$811.2 million in 2024, rose to US$1.04 billion in 2025, and totaled US$716 million in the first eight months of 2026.

Switzerland is one of the largest European investors in Viet Nam, with more than 100 Swiss companies active in the Southeast Asian country, operating in a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, food processing, machinery, precision instruments, healthcare, information technology, trade, logistics and services.

Switzerland has supported Viet Nam's socio-economic development through development and economic cooperation since 1991. Between 1991 and 2024, Switzerland provided more than CHF 650 million in development and humanitarian assistance.

Under the 2025-2028 cooperation program, Switzerland focuses on three key areas: sustainable trade and innovation; sustainable public and private finance; and climate-smart industrial and urban development./.