Việt Nam, Switzerland to further boost economic, trade, investment ties
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Diên and President of the National Council of Switzerland Martin Candinas had a meeting in Hà Nội on Friday, sharing the view that the two countries should further step up economic, trade, and investment links.
Diên appreciated Switzerland’s assistance for industrial and energy projects, international economic integration, and small- and medium-sized enterprises of Việt Nam, describing this as a precious resource for the Southeast Asian country’s development and integration process over the past years.
Candinas, who is paying an official visit to Việt Nam from June 27 to 30, said Switzerland always attaches importance to and wishes to further enhance bilateral cooperation, especially in economy and trade, and that it is working hard towards the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Việt Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which gathers Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Both sides shared the view that bilateral relations in economy, trade, and investment have been growing well in the recent past but still have much potential, and the two countries should further promote these ties.
The signing of an FTA that the parties concerned have negotiated for more than 10 years will be a prerequisite and also a useful tool for their enterprises to grasp opportunities for development cooperation, facilitate trade in goods, and boost bilateral investment flows, they said.
On this occasion, Diên and Candinas discussed directions for trade, investment, and development partnerships in the coming time so as to reinforce links in innovation, green economy, and sustainable development.
