National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) and President of the Council of States of Switzerland Ivo Bischofberger
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During the talks, Chairwoman Ngan expressed her delight at the growing bilateral relationship, particularly in politics, diplomacy, trade, investment and development cooperation.
At the talks between the Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman and the President of the Council of States of Switzerland.
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A range of activities were organised in 2016 to celebrate the 45th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties, including Vietnam Day in Switzerland, she noted.
The NA leader highlighted that Switzerland is an important economic partner of Vietnam in Europe, and noting that the two-way trade value exceeded US$1 billion in 2016, a year-on-year rise of 50%.
Switzerland ranks third among European countries and 17th among 116 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 132 valid projects with nearly $3 billion in total registered capital.
Vietnam welcomes and expects Switzerland to continue encouraging its businesses to invest and do business in the country, especially in the fields of finance, insurance, high technology, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, farm produce processing, tourism, and restaurant hotel services, Chairwoman stressed.
The NA leader thanked the Swiss parliament and government for their promise to provide US$90 million in official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in the 2017 – 2020 period, and proposed the two sides work together closely to effectively use this aid package.
For his part, President Ivo Bischofberger Bischofberger said his visit to Vietnam through March 31 aims to bolster the friendship between the two legislative bodies and contribute to furthering the multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and Switzerland.
Switzerland has stood side by side with Vietnam since the early 1990s, the President said, adding that as one of the four members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Switzerland always supports negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) with Vietnam, which is expected to create a legal corridor and open up investment and cooperation opportunities and trade exchanges for businesses from the member nations.
Bischofberger stressed that Swiss firms are interested in investing in Vietnam, and hoped that the country will create a favourable legal framework and business climate for them.
At the talks, the two sides also shared experience in environmental protection. Vietnam proposed Switzerland provide technical support in building laws in the field.
The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in education and training. Vietnam called Switzerland to increase the number of scholarships for Vietnamese students to pursue study in major fields such as law, banking, high technology and tourism, while Switzerland affirmed to open vocational training courses for Vietnam.
The two sides consented to increase the exchange of visits by high-ranking delegations, committees and friendship parliamentarians groups to share experience in parliamentary operations, laying a foundation for the development of practical and effective cooperation in all fields.
Chairwoman Ngan suggested the Swiss parliament and government to create optimal conditions for the Vietnamese community in Switzerland to live and work stably.
President Bischofberger took this occasion to invite the Vietnamese NA leader to soon pay an official visit to Switzerland.
Earlier on the same day, the Swiss delegation laid a wreath and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, and visited Uncle Ho’s Stilt House.
