Politburo Member, FM Le Hoai Trung receives Swiss State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda
WVR - On March 17, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, Politburo Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Hoài Trung met with Ms. Helene Budliger Artieda, Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Education and Research, who is visiting Vietnam from March 15-17, 2026.
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| Politburo Member, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and Ms. Helene Budliger Artieda, Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Education and Research. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung highly appreciated the outcomes of Ms. Helene Budliger Artieda's visit to Vietnam, emphasizing the positive developments in the bilateral relationship in recent times. Notably, the two countries upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Partnership in January 2025, and bilateral trade has been steadily increasing in recent years.
Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung stated that Vietnam is currently pursuing a new development trajectory, focusing on advancing science and technology, and fostering innovation to build a modern industrial and service economy. He affirmed Vietnam's readiness to cooperate with Switzerland in implementing this roadmap. On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1971-2026), the Minister proposed that both sides actively promote breakthroughs in science and technology cooperation, alongside traditional collaboration areas.
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| State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda affirmed the commitment to advancing the comprehensive development of Vietnam-Switzerland relations. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Sharing Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung's assessments and views, State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda reported on the recent negotiation round of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), noting that both sides have essentially resolved their differences to conclude the negotiations soon.
Ms. Helene Budliger Artieda emphasized that signing this Agreement will usher in a new phase of cooperation between Vietnam and EFTA countries, providing opportunities for Swiss investors to expand their activities in Vietnam. She also mentioned that the delegation accompanying her includes representatives from high-tech enterprises, who expressed significant interest in the FTA's prospects and the Vietnamese market.
Both sides agreed to expedite negotiations and soon implement the FTA between Vietnam and EFTA, aiming to position Switzerland among the top 10 investors in Vietnam.
