Hanoi(VNA)🔥 – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed the first visit to Vietnam byAustrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Alexander Schallenberg during a reception for the latter in Hanoi on April 17.

PM Chinh hailed theoutcomes of the earlier talks between Schallenberg and Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, as well as a Vietnam-Austria cooperation forum with theparticipation of the two countries’ businesses the same day. In its foreignpolicy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisationof external ties, active and proactive global integration in a comprehensiveand extensive manner, Vietnam always values and wants to reinforce cooperativeties with Austria, an important partner of the European Union, he said. Schallenberg affirmedthat the Austrian Government always considers Vietnam a prioritised partner in theregion and looks to expand cooperation with the Southeast Asian country invarious areas. The PM thanked the Austrian Government and people for providing invaluablesupport for Vietnam in the process of national development and the past fight againstCOVID-19. He suggested both sides facilitate the exchange of delegations at alllevels, especially those at high level to raise mutual trust and mutualunderstanding, creating a driving force for all-around collaboration. HailingAustria as one of the top 10 trading partners of Vietnam in Europe over the past years,the PM believed that the two countries' businesses will continue workingclosely together and tapping advantages brought about by the EU-Vietnam FreeTrade Agreement (EVFTA) to lift two-way trade to 4 billion USD in the comingyears. Hewished that Austria would create favourable conditions for Vietnam's products such as electronics, apparel, leather and footwear, agricultural andaquatic products to access the Austrian and EU markets. Onthe occasion, PM Chinh proposed the Austrian Government voice its support and callon the Austrian legislature to promptly ratify the EU-Vietnam InvestmentProtection Agreement (EVIPA) and support the European Commission (EC)’s earlyremoval of yellow card warning against Vietnamese seafood. TheVietnamese leader underlined the need to step up bilateral cooperation in areasthat both sides have strength and demand, such as sci-tech, infrastructure,labour, vocational training, digital transformation, circular economy and greentransition. The two countries hold great potential to expand cooperation in cultural, art and music exchange, and tourism. Heexpressed his wish that the Austrian Government would continue offering allpossible support to the Vietnamese community living and working in Austria,thereby contributing to the prosperity of Austria and acting as a bridge to propel the bilateral cooperation. Schallenberg, for his part, said Austria wants to further deepen its ties withVietnam in all spheres, adding that the Austrian Government and businesscommunity are interested in practical and effective cooperation with Vietnamese partners. He agreedthat both sides should step up labour cooperation by considering the signingof cooperation agreements between the two governments, carrying out trainingprojects between universities and on-the-job training at Austrian companies inVietnam, as well as developing the labour market which has great potential. The two sides vowed to support each other atmultilateral and regional forums. Regarding the East Sea issue, they shared theimportance of ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflightin the East Sea, as well as settling disputes through peaceful measures inaccordance with international law, especially the 1982 United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./.