Attending the ceremony were Dong Huy Cuong, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations; Tran Tuan Anh, President of the Viet Nam-Austria Friendship Association; Professor Alfred Gerstl, President of the Austria-Viet Nam Friendship Association; along with representatives of agencies, organizations, and members of friendship associations from both countries.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Viet Nam-Austria Friendship Association and the Austria-Viet Nam Friendship Association was signed by Tran Tuan Anh and Professor Alfred Gerstl on behalf of the two sides. The agreement, which is valid for five years, provides a framework for the two organizations to implement cooperative activities on the basis of equality, mutual respect, compliance with the laws of each country, and international treaties to which Viet Nam and Austria are signatories.
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| The Memorandum of Understanding between the Viet Nam-Austria Friendship Association and the Austria-Viet Nam Friendship Association was signed by Tran Tuan Anh and Professor Alfred Gerstl on behalf of the two sides. (Photo: Dinh Hoa). |
According to the signed agreement, the two sides will promote information sharing and enhance the promotion of each country’s image, people, history, culture, and development achievements; strengthen people-to-people, cultural, and artistic exchanges; and foster cooperative connections in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology, education and training, sports, and tourism among organizations, businesses, universities, and research institutes of the two countries.
The two sides also agreed to coordinate the organization of seminars, discussions, and both in-person and online exchange programs in Viet Nam and Austria; support mutual visits between leaders and members of the two associations; and strengthen the promotion of joint activities through media platforms and social networks.
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| An overview of the ceremony. (Photo: Dinh Hoa). |
Speaking at the event, Professor Alfred Gerstl highly appreciated the increasingly important role of Southeast Asia and ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific regional architecture as well as in Europe’s cooperation strategy. He noted that amid intensifying geopolitical competition, small and medium-sized countries need to promote multilateral cooperation, maintain dialogue, and reinforce a rules-based international order.
According to Professor Alfred Gerstl, the European Union (EU) currently regards Southeast Asia as an important partner in its strategy of “diversification” and reducing economic and technological dependence. Viet Nam is considered one of the EU’s key partners in the region, particularly in the areas of trade, energy transition, infrastructure connectivity, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
At the signing ceremony, Professor Alfred Gerstl also referred to the EU’s ongoing efforts to promote “strategic autonomy,” expand cooperation with ASEAN, and strengthen its presence in the Indo-Pacific region through initiatives such as the Global Gateway and the EU-ASEAN cooperation strategy.
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| Delegates pose for a commemorative photo. (Photo: Dinh Hoa). |
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Viet Nam-Austria Friendship Association and the Austria-Viet Nam Friendship Association is expected to create a new foundation for expanding people-to-people cooperation between the two countries, thereby contributing to consolidating their traditional friendship and promoting increasingly substantive and effective Viet Nam-Austria relations in the coming time.
Source: Vietnamtimes
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