Delegation of parliamentarians from EFTA member states to pay official visit to Vietnam
WVR - From April 20-24, a delegation of parliamentarians from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Parliamentary Committee, which includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, will pay an official visit to Vietnam.
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| The delegation of parliamentarians from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Parliamentary Committee, comprising four countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, will officially visit Vietnam from April 20-24. (Source: Bao Dau tu) |
The visit takes place as negotiations for a free trade agreement between EFTA and Vietnam are nearing completion, following the 19th round of talks with many positive outcomes held in Geneva from February 24-27. Additionally, Helene Budliger Artieda, the State Secretary for Economic Affairs of Switzerland, and Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad, the State Secretary for Trade and Industry of Norway, recently visited Hanoi.
Simultaneously, the 20th round of negotiations will also take place in Hanoi with the participation of specialized negotiating delegations.
According to the schedule in Hanoi, the delegation of parliamentarians will meet with senior representatives of the Vietnamese National Assembly responsible for foreign affairs, economics, and other agencies. The delegation will also have a working session with the Minister of Industry and Trade as well as leaders of the Central Policy and Strategy Committee.
Subsequently, the delegation will continue its mission in Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City to engage with local authorities, representatives of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), and the business community. The delegation will also visit key industrial parks and logistics centers in the North and South.
This visit provides an opportunity for EFTA parliamentarians to witness the significant progress in substantive cooperation between Vietnam and the EFTA bloc. Currently, both sides have closely collaborated in various fields such as seaports, maritime, food trade, digital services, and high technology. Through this, the delegation will gain a broader perspective on the vast prospects for trade and investment once the agreement comes into effect.
The 20th round of the Free Trade Agreement negotiations in Hanoi is expected to continue the positive momentum from previous sessions, as the remaining differences have been significantly narrowed. This round will be a decisive step towards finalizing the draft to be presented to the Ministers of the parties involved.
For Vietnam, the agreement not only strengthens economic relations with four of Europe's leading advanced economies but also promotes the transition to high value-added manufacturing, technology, and service sectors.
Conversely, EFTA countries will have the opportunity to penetrate deeper into the Vietnamese market and enhance trade and technology links with one of Asia's rapidly developing and increasingly modern production hubs.
