The Swiss President, his wife and the accompanying delegation arrived at Noi Bai International Airport on the morning of October 17.

The two-day official visit is taking place at the invitation of Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his wife.

The Swiss delegation includes Helene Budliger Artieda, State Secretary at the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research; Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass; and Pietro Lazzeri, Head of Economic Cooperation and Development at the same department.

Other members include Werner Bardill, Swiss Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City; Philippe Lionnet, Head of Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs; Miriam Gurtner, Senior Adviser at the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research; and Natalie Rast, Head of Bilateral Economic Relations for Asia and Oceania at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.

Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Vu Dai Thang and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang welcomed the Swiss President, his wife and the delegation at the airport.

They were joined by representatives of several departments under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President.

An official welcoming ceremony for President Parmelin and his wife is scheduled to take place at the National Assembly Building on the afternoon of October 17.

During the visit, the Swiss President is expected to hold talks with General Secretary and State President To Lam and meet Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Several other important activities are also planned.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said relations between Vietnam and Switzerland have developed very positively.

The two countries established a Comprehensive Partnership in January 2025, while 2026 marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Vietnam and Switzerland regularly exchange delegations at senior and other levels, and parliamentary cooperation between the two countries has also developed favorably.

Switzerland is an important European trade and investment partner for Vietnam.

Bilateral trade reached US$1 billion in 2025, while Switzerland ranked sixth among European countries in terms of foreign direct investment in Vietnam.

Cooperation in education, training, labor, science and technology, innovation and numerous other fields has also continued to develop strongly.

During the visit, the four members of the European Free Trade Association, comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, are expected to sign the Vietnam-EFTA Free Trade Agreement in Hanoi.

The agreement is regarded as an important milestone that could generate new momentum in economic relations between Vietnam and Switzerland.

It is expected to create more favorable conditions for businesses from both countries to increase investment, expand cooperation and make better use of opportunities in each other's markets.

Tran Thuong