Vietnam always considers Austria an important and reliablepartner in Europe, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told President of theAustrian National Council Wolfgang Sobotka.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and President of the Austrian National Council Wolfgang Sobotka

During a meeting with the Austrian leader on October 16 aspart of his official visit to Austria, PM Phuc suggested the two countriescontinue to develop the bilateral relations in a more intensive, effective andcomprehensive manner in the time to come. 

He highlighted great potential for the two countries topromote cooperation in trade and investment, and affirmed that Vietnam isconstantly improving its investment environment and strongly restructuring itsnational economy, thus opening up opportunities for Austrian enterprises toinvest the Southeast Asian country.

PM Phuc took this occasion to thank Austria for providingpreferential loans for Vietnam, which, he said, have contributed significantlyto the nation’s development process.

He highlighted the importance of the support and assistancefrom Austria and the international community for Vietnam, saying that althoughVietnam has become a middle-income country, it is still facing a range ofdifficulties, and especially Vietnam is one of the countries which are thehardest affected by climate change.

The Vietnamese leader highly evaluated the role played bythe National Assembly of Vietnam and the Austrian National Council instrengthening the bilateral ties.

He welcomed the establishment of the Austria-SouthAsia/Southeast Asia Friendship Parliamentary Group to strengthen legislativeties with the region and Vietnam, expressing his belief that the relationsbetween the two parliaments will continue developing fruitfully in the comingtime.

PM Phuc suggested the Austrian National Council, the South Asia/SoutheastAsia Friendship Parliamentary Group support Vietnam’s efforts to foster itscomprehensive cooperation with the European Union (EU), and urge the EU toearly sign and approve the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

For his part, Sobotka said PM Phuc’s visit marks a newmilestone in the relationship between Vietnam and Austria.

He noted that economic and trade ties between Austria andVietnam remain limited and fail to match up potential of both nations.

Austrian enterprises, especially those operating in thefields of manufacturing industry, electronics, renewable energy andinfrastructure development, are very interested in the emerging markets likeVietnam, he said,  adding that Austriaalso wants to cooperate with Vietnam in the spheres of vocational training,research, and heath care.

Sobotka affirmed that the Austrian National Council willcoordinate with the Austrian Government to accelerate the signing of the EVFTA.

The Austrian National Council pays due attention to the observanceof international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Lawof the Sea (UNCLOS), and in ensuring security, safety, freedom of navigationand aviation in the East Sea, he stressed.

Austria treasures ties with Vietnam: Austrian President

Austria attaches importance to its friendship and cooperation with Vietnam and is willing to collaborate with the Southeast Asian nation in the fields both sides can complement each other, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has affirmed.

Welcoming Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Vienna on October 15 afternoon (local time), President Van der Bellen expressed his satisfaction with the fine development of bilateral relations in numerous fields, particularly economics, trade, education and training and development cooperation.

He said that the establishment of a representative office of the Austrian Economic Chambers (WKO) in Ho Chi Minh City demonstrates the attention Austria pays to the Vietnamese market.

PM Phuc thanked the President for supporting the development of multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. He hopes that the Austrian leader will soon visit Vietnam.

Both sides emphasised the need for more measures to tighten bilateral collaboration, and agreed on the necessity to encourage Austrian enterprises to invest in the fields that are essential for Vietnam’s industrialisation and modernisation process.

Phuc proposed Austria consider putting Vietnam in a list of countries prioritised to receive the country’s aid, and support Vietnam build a high-quality educational system, especially in vocational training.

The two leaders shared views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea issue, cooperation in the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU).

They stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and aviation and navigation safety and freedom in the East Sea, and affirmed the principle of solving disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

VNA