Gov’t chief calls for more practical approach to FTA with 4 European countries
VGP – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has called for more practical approach to accelerating talks on a free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the European Free Trade Association membered by Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
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PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Guy Parmelin, Ha Noi, July 11, 2019 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu |
Phuc praised the two sides’ efforts to have narrowed the gap in outstanding issues, especially trade in goods and public procurement.
He also asked Guy Parmelin to further beef up Switzerland’s investment in Viet Nam as the European country’s investment capital remains modest.
The Vietnamese Government is striving to improve business environment to further facilitate the long-term operation by foreign firms, including Swiss ones, Phuc affirmed.
He took the occasion to thank Switzerland for providing official development assistance to Viet Nam in various fields and for having supported Viet Nam to win a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.
He also highly valued Switzerland’s support for Viet Nam and ASEAN’s just stance on settling disputes on the East Sea by peaceful means, on the basis of the international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Meanwhile, Guy Parmelin spoke highly of the fine outcomes of the bilateral relations over the recent past and held that there is still room for further development.
He said that many Swiss firms have already set footholds in Viet Nam and generated over 20,000 jobs for local workers./.
By Khanh Phuong
