While there, Thanh held talks with First Vice President of the Swiss National Council Katja Christ, met with Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) Tatiana Valovaya, attended a ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of Viet Nam’s National Day and the 55th anniversary of Viet Nam–Switzerland diplomatic relations. The official had meetings with leaders of the Swiss Party of Labor, the Communist Party of Switzerland, the Switzerland–Viet Nam Friendship Association, and Swiss friends. She also visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Switzerland and the Permanent Mission of Viet Nam to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva.
    |
 |
|
Vice President of the of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh (left) and First Vice President of the Swiss National Council Katja Christ at their meeting |
At the talks with the First Vice President of the Swiss National Council in Bern, Thanh affirmed that Viet Nam attaches importance to its relations with Switzerland, an important partner in Europe, and expressed the wish to further deepen the Comprehensive Partnership on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
Regarding parliamentary cooperation, she proposed increasing delegation exchanges, sharing experience in lawmaking and policymaking in areas of common concern, and continuing coordination and mutual support at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF) and other multilateral parliamentary forums.
The Vietnamese official called for the effective implementation of the Viet Nam–Switzerland Comprehensive Partnership and stronger coordination at the U.N. and regional mechanisms. She suggested the two sides promote cooperation in science – technology, fintech, international financial center development, digital finance, blockchain, sustainable finance, security – defense, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
Thanh also asked Switzerland to continue creating favorable conditions for the more than 10,000 Vietnamese people living in the country to lead stable lives, integrate successfully and contribute as a bridge between the two countries.
Christ described Thanh's visit as an important milestone in the year marking the 55th anniversary of Viet Nam–Switzerland diplomatic ties, saying it will help strengthen political trust, maintain delegation exchanges and reinforce cooperation between the two parliaments.
The host emphasized the importance of enhancing the role of female parliamentarians and encouraging women's participation and contribution to political and parliamentary activities.
She also highlighted the conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as a landmark that promises further opportunities for economic, trade and investment links.
The two sides agreed to make effective use of parliamentary cooperation to advance bilateral ties across all fields, while strengthening coordination at multilateral mechanisms, particularly the U.N., and upholding multilateralism and respect for international law.
Thanh asked Switzerland to continue supporting the freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea (aka South China Sea) and the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Thanh took the occasion to invite the First Vice President of the Swiss National Council to pay an official visit to Viet Nam, and Christ accepted with the pleasure.
At her meeting with UNOG Director-General Valovaya in Geneva, Thanh affirmed Viet Nam's support for the role of the U.N., multilateralism, the U.N. Charter and international law. She also highlighted the role of parliaments in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and proposed stronger coordination among Viet Nam, the U.N., the UNOG and the IPU in addressing common global challenges.
Valovaya affirmed the importance of cooperation between the U.N. and the IPU, stressing that parliamentary cooperation is essential to addressing sustainable development issues. She thanked Viet Nam for its cooperation and engagement in tackling global challenges while praising its coordination with the U.N. and the contribution by the Vietnamese Permanent Mission in Geneva.
During meetings with leaders of the Swiss Party of Labor and the Communist Party of Switzerland, Thanh appreciated the support extended by Swiss left-wing parties and people to Viet Nam. She called for promoting the traditional friendship and increasing the exchange of information, theory and experience to contribute to relations between their Parties, States, parliaments and peoples.
She briefed the Swiss parties on major orientations following the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, the country's socio-economic achievements and its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, multilateralization and diversification of external relations, as well as active and proactive international integration.
Leaders of the Swiss parties spoke highly of Viet Nam's socio-economic development and international integration achievements and voiced their desire to step up contacts and experience-sharing with the Communist Party of Viet Nam, particularly among young party members.
Meeting President of the Switzerland–Viet Nam Friendship Association Anjuska Marija Weil and Swiss friends, Thanh appreciated the organization’s contribution to friendship between the two peoples. She praised its activities in supporting vulnerable people and victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, upholding the Vietnamese language, promoting Vietnamese culture and strengthening cohesion within the Vietnamese community in Switzerland.
Weil said the association will continue activities related to Viet Nam and promote information about the country among the Swiss public. She also promised its support for the “Binh Minh” Vietnamese language school in Zurich, which has helped preserve the Vietnamese language, maintain cultural identity and connect generations of Vietnamese people in Switzerland.
During her stay, Thanh also visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Switzerland and the Permanent Mission of Viet Nam to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva.
Source: VNA