Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son. Photo: VNA

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held phone talks with Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria Alexander Schallenberg on June 1, The World & Vietnam reported.

As Vietnam and Austria are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2022, the two sides expressed their pleasure at the positive developments in the bilateral relationship, with delegation exchanges and high-level meetings continuously maintained.

Currently, Austria is among the 10 largest trading partners of Vietnam in the European Union (EU) with two-way trade turnover in 2021 reaching nearly $3.5 billion. Bilateral connections in science-technology, culture, and development cooperation between the two countries continue to record positive progress.

In order to make the Vietnam-Austria cooperation more dynamic, practical and effective in the coming time, Son and Schallenberg agreed to maintain delegation exchanges and meetings at all levels, and coordinate in organising activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The two sides will strengthen trade-investment promotion activities, and expand cooperation in fields of Austria’s strengths and Vietnam’s needs, such as renewable energy, climate change response, waste treatment and the processing industry.

They also agreed to closely coordinate to successfully organise the upcoming session of the Vietnam-Austria Joint Committee on Economic-Trade Cooperation, while taking advantage of the opportunities and benefits brought by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Minister Son suggested that the Austrian Government raise a voice to urge the Austrian Parliament to early ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

The two sides agreed to continue to work closely and support each other at multilateral forums and organizations such as the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and ASEAN-EU.

Last month, a delegation of Austrian firms visited Vietnam for the first time after two years of hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, looking to seek collaboration chances with Vietnamese localities in green infrastructure development, VietnamPlus said.

At the reception for the Austrian business delegation in HCM City. Photo: VNA

At a reception for the delegation, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan said HCM City wants to see more investment promotion activities from Austrian enterprises to tap on the sides’ cooperation potential.

Highlighting challenges facing the city in waste and wastewater treatment, Hoan hoped that Austrian enterprises with interest in the field to offer consultations and transfer technologies to the city, and invest in building treatment plans here.

He said the firms can also share their experience and directly participate in the city’s smart city development projects.

Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam Hans-Peter Glanzer, who led the delegation, said as both nations are stepping up the use of clean and renewable energies, room remains tremendous for their businesses to work together in green energy, green technology, green transport, and waste water treatment.

At a meeting with the ambassador earlier, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Le Hong Son also affirmed that the capital city wants to strengthen cooperation with Austria in public transport, healthcare, and the environment.

Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Le Hong Son (right) presents a souvenir to Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam Hans-Peter Glanzer . Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn

Although bilateral relations have been continuously strengthened, the two countries have not yet fully exploited the potential of cooperation, he said, adding that there are nine investment projects of Austria in Hanoi with total registered capital of about $3.7 million.

The ambassador said Austria seeks close cooperation with Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular, in areas that are the country’s strengths such as urban transport solutions, medical equipment and treatment of wastewater and garbage./.

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