Welcoming vice President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh spoked highly of Switzerland’s Official Development Assistance given to Vietnam over the past time, which totaled at 650 million USD.

Vice president Ignazio Cassis said the Swiss government has decided to sponsor Vietnam 500,000 COVID-19 quick test kits, 300,000 facemasks, and 30 oxygen ventilators worth around 5.26 million USD.

The two leaders agreed that there are still many space for economic cooperation between the two countries.

On the same day, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan hosted a reception for Swiss Vice President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.

At the reception, the two sides discussed measures to help enterprises from the two countries expand cooperation in potential fields, such as finance-banking, pharmaceuticals, and digital economy, among others.

Xuan also expressed her sincere thanks for the support Switzerland has given to Vietnam in term of official development assistance as well as in the fight against Covid-19.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan hosts reception for Swiss counterpart

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (right) and Vice President and Foreign Minister of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan hosted a reception on August 5 for Vice President and Foreign Minister of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis, who is on an official visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Switzerland diplomatic ties.

Appreciating the outcomes between Ignazio Cassis and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Vice President Xuan thanked Switzerland for its continued provision of ODA for Vietnam.

She affirmed that Vietnam will create favourable conditions for the two countries to expand investment cooperation to fields with good potential.

The Vice President also valued the timely support of the Swiss Government for Vietnam in times of difficulties, and asked Switzerland to help Vietnam access COVID-19 vaccines.

Vice President Ignazio Cassis stressed that Switzerland attaches importance to developing relations with Vietnam in the context of Vietnam’s rising role and prestige in the region and the world.

He spoke highly of Vietnam’s response to the latest resurgence of the COVID-19 and informed that the Swiss Government had decide to provide Vietnam with emergency aid of 500,000 kits of rapid test kits, 300,000 anti-bacterial masks and 30 ventilators.

The Swiss Vice President also thanked Vietnam for supporting stronger cooperation between Switzerland and the ASEAN.

The two Vice Presidents took the occasion to discuss measures to promote bilateral relations, including the resumption of delegation exchanges, especially high-ranking delegations.

The Swiss official said President Guy Parmelin hopes President Nguyen Xuan Phuc will early make an official visit to Switzerland so that the two sides can reach agreement on major orientations for bilateral cooperation.

The two sides also looked into the prospect of an early conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EFTA in which Switzerland is a member.

The two sides agreed to cooperate closely and support each other at multilateral forums, and reiterated the importance of maintaining navigation and overflight freedom in the East Sea, while highlighting the need for observance of international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thus contributing to a peaceful and stable environment for development in the region and the world as a whole.

Prime Minister thanks Switzerland for timely help amid COVID-19

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Swiss Vice President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received visiting Swiss Vice President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis in Hanoi on August 5, during which he thanked the Swiss Government for the timely and valuable help when Vietnam is coping with a resurgence of COVID-19.

The Swiss Government has decided to provide Vietnam with an emergency aid package of 500,000 COVID-19 testing kits, 300,000 face masks, 30 ventilators, and other medical supplies.

PM Chinh also asked Switzerland to help Vietnam access COVID-19 vaccine supply sources as soon as possible. He also recommended the sides boosting cooperation in technological transfer and production of pharmaceuticals, including COVID-19 vaccines and treatment drugs.

The leaders reviewed outcomes of cooperation between the two nations over the past five decades and discussed orientations to lift the relations to new heights in the future. They also talked about the preparation for Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc's visit to Switzerland.

Both host and guest agreed to speeding up negotiations for the signing of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member.

The Vietnamese PM proposed Switzerland further create favourable conditions for Vietnamese goods and farm produce to enter the Swiss and EU markets; boost cooperation with Vietnam in sectors of Swiss strength; and early research and build bilateral cooperation projects on digital transformation.

Chinh also took the occasion to express his gratitude for Switzerland's development aid worth 650 million USD granted for Vietnam in the past more than 30 years.

For his part, the Swiss Vice President stressed the Swiss Government and people highly evaluate Vietnam's effective use of the aid, adding that Switzerland will offer Vietnam more official development assistance (ODA) during 2021 - 2024.

The two sides agreed to continue working closely at multilateral regional and international forums, with Ignazio Cassis praising the role and contribution of ASEAN and Vietnam in seeking solutions for the Myanmar issue.

The Vietnamese and Swiss officials highlighted the importance of ensuring free navigation and navigation, security, peace and stability in the East Sea as well as of addressing disputes in the waters via peaceful measures in line with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam hopes to receive more Swiss assistance in COVID-19 vaccine access: FM

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (R) welcomes Swiss Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son proposed Switzerland continue to assist Vietnam in getting access to COVID-19 vaccine supplies, treatment medicines and necessary medical equipment during his talks with Swiss Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis in Hanoi on August 5.

Welcoming the guest to Vietnam, Son said the visit, which is taking place from August 4-6 in celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, will contribute to promoting the bilateral relations.

He thanked the Swiss Government for continuing to prioritise the provision of Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in the future, focusing mainly on environmental protection and economic reform.

The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of high-level delegations and meetings, and those between ministries, sectors and localities.

They committed to creating a favourable environment for enterprises of the two countries to expand investment and business in each other's markets, and share efforts to soon conclude the negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in order to create strong impetus for bilateral trade and investment exchanges.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, Son thanked the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs for donating 500,000 quick COVID-19 test kits, 300,000 antibacterial masks and 30 oxygen machines with a total value of about 117 billion VND (5.1 million USD) to Vietnam.

Cassis expressed his belief that Vietnam will soon recover from the pandemic and agreed that the two countries need to continue to share experiences in COVID-19 prevention and control as well as roadmap of opening up and recovering the economy, and strengthen bilateral cooperation in healthcare, especially the technology transfer of COVID-19 vaccines and treatment drugs.

Also at the talks, the two officials agreed to continue cooperation and strengthen mutual support at multilateral forums and international organisations, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations.

The Swiss official affirmed his support for ASEAN's central role in regional structures. He also congratulated Vietnam on successfully assuming its role as Chair of ASEAN in 2020 and thanked the nation for acting as a bridge to bolster the Switzerland - ASEAN partnership.

The two ministers emphasised the importance of complying with international law, ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight, security and peace in the East Sea, in which the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the legal framework governing all activities at seas and oceans.

Son thanked and proposed the Swiss Government continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Switzerland to integrate well, contribute positively to Switzerland's development and strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries./.

Source: VNA