VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam and Switzerland will celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations on October 11. To mark the occasion, Swiss President and foreign minister Micheline Calmy-Rey spoke to VNA correspondent Le Thanh.

Switzerland and Viet Nam established diplomatic relations 40 years ago. How do you assess bilateral relations over the past four decades, especially since President Pascal Couchepin visited Viet Nam in 2008 and President Nguyen Minh Triet's visit to Switzerland last year?

Switzerland and Viet Nam have built a solid basis for co-operation and are enjoying excellent relations. In economy, the trade balance is in favour of Viet Nam.

This is an important potential for development of Viet Nam. Although two-way trade did not proceed well last year, I am convinced that bilateral relations still have a lot of potential to develop, and we can bring this relationship to a new height.

The two countries also have had discussions on human rights issues, such as minorities, religion, gender equality and the penal system. I am satisfied with the dialogue because it is not only important for Switzerland, but also beneficial for both countries. We have also issued joint statements on boosting training and research in universities between the two countries.

There is still a lot of potential to develop co-operation, particularly in fields that Switzerland is strong in such as finance, banking, and high tech industries. Do you share this point of view?

As I said above, I believe Switzerland still has great potential for trade and investment development with Viet Nam – the country has successfully carried out reform to reduce poverty and improve infrastructure for economic development. This potential should be further promoted.

Which particular areas the two countries should focus on development in future?

Switzerland always wishes to have parallel economic development with Viet Nam. The fact is that Viet Nam has made admirable efforts to eradicate hunger and reduce poverty. That's why Switzerland plans to make a big change in the policy towards its partner Viet Nam: That is to focus on co-operation and partnership in economy.

It happens that also 40 years ago Switzerland, almost the last country in Europe, gave women the federal vote. Now it has a majority female cabinet in which you have been foreign minister for nearly a decade, and this is your second term as president. Switzerland's gender equality success and your own story would be very good examples for Vietnamese women. Will you please tell us something about this story?

Gaining the federal vote for women in Switzerland took a long time because it had to receive nationwide approval. It was men who decided to give women the right to vote back then. Over the past 40 years, Switzerland has made big achievements in gender equality as you have said, with women making up the majority of the current cabinet. However, the same picture does not apply in the parliament where women account for only 30 per cent, and just a small minority hold management and executive positions. As a result, Switzerland has to make greater efforts in gender equality.

Finally, Mrs President, if you have any message for the people of the two countries on this occasion, what would it be?

My message is that the two people would gain greater development in their relations based on mutual understanding and the exchange of trade, culture and humanity.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News