On November 4, the Swiss-Vietnam Economic Forum 2025 officially took place in Da Nang City.

Speaking at the forum, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang highlighted the event’s special significance as a symbol of strong bilateral cooperation, contributing to the consolidation and expansion of Vietnam-Switzerland relations.

According to Hang, the Swiss-Vietnam Economic Forum serves as a high-level, annual dialogue platform between government bodies, local authorities, and business communities from both countries to promote economic cooperation, innovation, and sustainable development.

The forum's first session was held in Zurich, Switzerland in 2024, laying the groundwork for identifying priority cooperation areas such as green transformation, digital transformation, vocational training, and clean energy.

“This year’s forum being held in Da Nang reflects both sides’ commitment to deepening economic cooperation at the local level, thereby fostering inclusive and sustainable growth,” she stated.

Deputy Minister Hang noted that over more than half a century, Switzerland has consistently supported Vietnam in reconstruction, development, and global integration.

Following four decades of renewal, Vietnam has achieved comprehensive and historic progress. The country now maintains diplomatic relations with 194 nations and has established strategic or comprehensive partnerships with 40 of them.

Switzerland was among the first Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam. Over the past five decades, the two countries have built a close relationship marked by enduring support.

Bilateral cooperation has developed positively and effectively across multiple sectors. Switzerland is currently a major trade partner of Vietnam in Central Europe and ranks as the sixth-largest European investor in the country. Over the past 30 years, Switzerland has provided Vietnam with over $800 million in non-refundable aid, focusing on vocational training, private sector development, and climate change response.

At the forum, Deputy Minister Hang also referred to the successful meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Davos in January 2025, during which both sides announced the upgrade of their relationship to a comprehensive partnership.

“These results clearly reflect the depth of trust, effectiveness, and practical cooperation between our two countries, creating new momentum for local-level collaboration. Switzerland is not only an economic partner, but a long-standing companion that helps Vietnam realize its green development goals through innovation and a people-centered approach,” she affirmed.

Hang further stated that in an era of globalization, economic diplomacy plays a crucial role in connecting businesses, facilitating trade and investment, and fostering cultural exchanges. For Vietnam and Switzerland, it serves as a tool to turn potential into meaningful cooperation.

“Alongside the upcoming free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EFTA bloc, businesses in both countries will have easier access to each other's expansive markets.

With a shared vision of green development, innovation, and a people-centric approach, economic diplomacy is the 'golden key' for advancing comprehensive collaboration in trade, investment, science, technology, culture, and people-to-people exchange,” Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang emphasized.

Ho Giap