Leaders welcome Austrian President

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (R) and Austrian President Heinz Fischer, Hanoi, May 29, 2012

Party chief Trong spoke highly of Heinz Fischer’s official visit to Vietnam which took place on the occasion of the 40 th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Austria and Vietnam .

He considers the visit an important political event in the traditional friendship and fruitful cooperation between the two countries.

The Party chief introduced his guest to Vietnam ’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development and proactive international integration adopted at the 11 th National Party Congress.

Trong wished the visit every success and predicted it would create a new momentum to expand the friendship and cooperation between the two states and people.

For his part, the Austrian President said he is impressed by the great achievements the Vietnamese people have recorded in the modernisation process under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The state and people of Austria highly value the role and position played by Vietnam in the region and the world, he affirmed.

Mr. Heinz Fischer expressed his wish to consolidate and further develop the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (R) and Austrian President Heinz Fischer, Hanoi, May 29, 2012 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

On the same day, President Heinz Fischer met with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, who affirmed that the Vietnamese Government supports and creates conditions for Austrian businesses to invest in Vietnam .

The PM highly valued the results of the talks between President Heinz Fischer and his Vietnamese counterpart, especially the signing of six cooperative documents between the two countries.

He suggested Austria assist Vietnam in human resource training, science and technology, infrastructure investment and energy.

PM Dung expressed his wish that Austria will continue providing official development assistance (ODA) capital for Vietnam , focusing on health, environment and response to climate change.

While suggesting Austria support Vietnam in fostering cooperation with the European Union, the PM affirmed that Vietnam is ready to help Austria boost ties with ASEAN countries.

For his part, the Austrian President expressed a wish to promote cooperation with Vietnam , especially in trade, investment and human resource training.

He suggested that the two sides increase the exchange of delegations to boost cooperation in specific project.

Later in the day, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung met with Austrian President Heinz Fischer.

The two leaders agreed to step up parliamentary cooperation through the exchange of visits by parliamentarians and the sharing of experience./.