Declaration on Enhancing the Partnership between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Swiss Confederation

1. On the occasion of attending the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, on January 21, 2025, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh had talks with President of the Swiss Confederation Karin Keller-Sutter.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter. (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations, the situation in each country and regional and international issues of mutual concern, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and cooperation in the spirit of friendship and mutual respect. 2. President Karin Keller-Sutter acknowledged the growing role of Vietnam as an important regional partner of Switzerland. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed the importance of the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Switzerland. The two sides agreed in principle to elevate the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership framework, reflecting current cooperation priorities. 3. Sharing the perception of the central role of economic cooperation in the bilateral relationship, the two leaders highlighted the potential for enhanced economic cooperation and the exploitation of new opportunities to effectively exploit the complementarities between the two economies. The two sides agreed to step up efforts and take concrete steps to soon conclude negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). 4. President Karin Keller-Sutter said that Switzerland will continue to support Vietnam through the Development Cooperation Program for the period 2025-2028 under the auspices of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, pledging to support Vietnam's goal of becoming a sustainable and self-reliant high-income economy. The two sides agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as innovation, green finance, intellectual property, and exchange of experiences in building and developing an international financial center in Vietnam. 5. Recognizing the benefits ofeducational and cultural cooperation, the two sides agreed to continue to consider the potential for expanding joint academic cooperation initiatives, training programs, and tourism cooperation. The two sides also agreed to identify innovation, science and technology, and knowledge sharing as promising priority areas for extensive bilateral cooperation in the coming time. 6. The two sides affirmed that people-to-people exchanges and the Vietnamese and Swiss communities living in each country play an important role in promoting mutual understanding and building bridges between the two countries. 7. The two sides acknowledged opportunities to promote innovation, science and technology cooperation, including partnerships between research institutes and joint initiatives to support scientific development, such as initiatives to fund joint scientific research activities through the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED). The two sides also exchanged views on strengthening efforts to address environmental challenges and promote climate resilience, in line with the Paris Agreement. 8. The two sides reaffirmed the importance of cooperation in multilateral forums and contributing to prosperity and stability in the region and the world, and strengthening efforts to address global challenges, including environmental protection, climate change response and water security. The two sides expressed their support for multilateralism and a world order based on international law and the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter. The two sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea and the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, in particular the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). 9. The two sides expressed confidence in the future of Vietnam-Switzerland relations and were determined to cooperate more closely to promote the common interests of both countries.

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Source: https://nhandan.vn/tuyen-bo-ve-nang-tam-quan-he-doi-tac-giua-cong-hoa-xa-hoi-chu-nghia-viet-nam-va-lien-bang-thuy-si-post857413.html