President Vo Van Thuong Thuong (R) receives Prof. Dr. Alfred Gerstl, Chairman of the Austria - Vietnam Friendship Association
Expressing his pleasure at meeting the chairman of the Austria-Vietnam Friendship Association, President Thuong emphasised that both sides have enjoyed a long-standing traditional relationship and have regularly launched high-level contact activities aimed at augmenting bilateral co-operation.
Last year witnessed the two countries celebrate their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, with many positive co-operation results through building economic, trade, and investment links between the two countries, President Thuong told his host.
Austria represents currently one of the 10 largest Vietnamese partners in Europe, with bilateral trade reaching more than US$2.7 billion last year.
Since the beginning of the year, many Austrian businesses have come to the nation to explore business investment opportunities, thereby giving a positive signal that Austrian investment in the nation will increase moving forward.
Emphasising the positive highlights in mutual relations, the President said that this achievement has made an important contribution to the Austria-Vietnam Friendship Association.
The Vietnamese State leader went on to congratulate the association, which was originally set up in 1973, on its recent successful congress and Dr. Gerstl on his election as its chairman. He also appreciated Peter Jankovich, the former chairman, and his contributions to Vietnam over half a century.
President Thuong highly values the association’s coordination to organising many friendship exchanges as a means of helping to strengthen mutual understanding and support between the two peoples.
Thanking Dr. Gerstl and other Austrian friends for their dedication to bilateral ties, he expressed his belief that Dr Gerstl will further contribute to the positive relations and friendship.
For his part, Dr. Gerstl said Vietnam plays an important role in Austria’s foreign policy, especially in terms of trade and investment, noting that many Austrian businesses are currently operating in the Southeast Asian nation.
He showed his delight at Vietnamese achievements in economic development and also spoke glowingly of bilateral co-ordination and exchanges in culture and arts.
President Thuong affirmed that the country always treasures and desires to boost the friendship and all-around ties with Austria, including through activities of the Austria - Vietnam and Vietnam - Austria friendship associations.
He outlined that he believes over the next 50 years the two sides will bring into play the achievements that they have recorded to build up their friendship and co-operation.
The same day, President Thuong had a meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Austria and the Union of Vietnamese People Associations in Europe, and visited the Vietnamese Embassy in the European nation.
Long Pham / Source: VOV
