Vietnam and Austria strengthen security and law enforcement cooperation
WVR - From October 16-19, a delegation from the Ministry of Public Security, led by Senior Lieutenant General Le Quoc Hung, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of Public Security, visited and worked in Austria.
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| Deputy Minister Le Quoc Hung and the delegation working with the Austrian Ministry of the Interior. |
The visit aimed to promote bilateral cooperation in security, policing, crime prevention, digital technology, and residency management.
In Vienna, Deputy Minister Le Quoc Hung and the delegation met with the Austrian Ministry of the Interior. On behalf of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security, Deputy Minister Lê Quốc Hùng discussed with Mr. Peter Webinger, Director General for Migration and International Affairs, about the cooperation between the two Ministries in recent times and future directions to strengthen relations.
Both sides agreed that the cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Austrian Ministry of the Interior is developing positively, with depth and increasing substance since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972. This is the first official visit at the Ministry level between the two agencies, marking a significant development and opening prospects for expanding cooperation in many strategic areas.
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| Both sides agreed that the cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Austrian Ministry of the Interior is developing positively, with depth and increasing substance. |
The Austrian Ministry of the Interior shared experiences in migration management, particularly the application of digital technology in population management and public service provision.
Since 1997, Austria has implemented e-Government with three pillars: a central population registration system, a national identification and electronic signature system, and a system for inter-agency data sharing. Currently, Austria is applying a nationwide digital identification system with high security, effectively supporting management and public service.
Deputy Minister Le Quoc Hung expressed his impression with Austria's achievements and proposed that both sides expedite negotiations and move towards signing a Cooperation Agreement on Crime Prevention; enhance the development of extradition agreements and the transfer of sentenced persons; and expand cooperation in training and capacity building for Vietnamese public security personnel in cybersecurity, high-tech crime prevention, terrorism, money laundering, and migration management.
On this occasion, Deputy Minister Le Quoc Hung conveyed the invitation from the Minister of Public Security of Vietnam to the Austrian Minister of the Interior to attend the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (Hanoi Convention), taking place in Hanoi from October 25-27, 2025.
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| The delegation visited and worked with the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT). |
During the visit, Deputy Minister Le Quoc Hung and the delegation visited and worked with the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) – a leading research agency in applied science and technology in Austria. Here, both sides discussed technological solutions for security work, residency management, and law enforcement support.
Deputy Minister Le Quoc Hung and the delegation directly visited the quantum encryption technology laboratory – the most advanced secure communication technology currently being developed by AIT for application in government and law enforcement.
AIT leadership affirmed their readiness to cooperate with the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security in technology transfer, joint research, and training support.
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| The delegation at the Austrian State Printing House (OSD). |
At the Austrian State Printing House (OSD) – the only facility authorized to print security documents issued by the Austrian Government, Deputy Minister Le Quoc Hung and the delegation exchanged experiences in printing, identity document management, and digital technology application development.
OSD currently employs about 220 personnel and produces passports, ID cards, visas, driver's licenses, and other high-security documents according to ISO, ICAO standards, and strict EU regulations.
Some notable products introduced include the new national passport with advanced security layers and the "My Identity App" – a multifunctional integrated electronic identification platform. OSD currently provides solutions to over 60 countries, including Cambodia, a Southeast Asian nation using its passport printing services.
OSD expressed a desire to cooperate with the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security in digital transformation and security printing solutions. At the end of the meeting, OSD presented two new passport samples to the Ministry of Public Security for reference on security features.
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| Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Quoc Hung and Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Vu Le Thai Hoang. |
During their time in Austria, Deputy Minister Le Quoc Hung and the delegation also visited the Vietnamese Embassy and met with representatives of the Vietnamese community living there. Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang informed that Vietnam-Austria relations in law enforcement have seen many positive developments recently.
The two countries regard each other as strategic partners in important regions: Vietnam is a gateway for Austria to access ASEAN, while Austria is a hub connecting Central and Eastern Europe. Currently, about 9,000 Vietnamese people live in Austria, forming a law-abiding community that plays an effective bridging role in promoting cooperation between the two countries.
Deputy Minister Le Quoc Hung urged the Embassy to continue supporting the Vietnamese community in Austria and actively promote cooperation programs in areas where Austria excels, such as science and technology, innovation, core technology, and source technology, to serve the country's industrialization and modernization efforts.
(Source: Embassy of Vietnam in Austria)
