Roundup: Swiss FM says visit to Vietnam helps promote strong, constructive partnership

Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter said here on Tuesday that he expected his visit to Vietnam will help boost Switzerland-Vietnam relations to become a strong and constructive partnership.

Burkhalter made the remark at a press briefing held in capital Hanoi on Tuesday after holding talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh.

According to the visiting Swiss official, such strong and constructive partnership will be promoted in areas including economy, security and international law.

In economy, Burkhalter once again affirmed the Swiss government 's wish to speed up the negotiation process of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Vietnam.

The agreement, once signed, will provide impetus to boost bilateral economic ties, especially creating a good environment for Swiss companies to run businesses in Vietnam, said Burkhalter.

"The desire to sign an FTA with Vietnam lies in Switzerland's general strategy to strengthen cooperation with countries in Asia- Pacific and Latin America," said Burkhalter, adding that his country wishes to sign as many agreements as possible with its partners.

"In the context of global economic competition, investors tend to arrive in countries allowing them to run long-term businesses," said the Swiss foreign minister, adding that based on that spirit, the two officials have discussed important issues such as protection of intellectual property, respect for decisions by international arbitration as well as several legal barriers.

Switzerland has been a partner for development cooperation of Vietnam in the past 20 years. In the coming time, the country will orient its aid to Vietnam in economic cooperation, said the Swiss guest.

Regarding international law, Switzerland welcomes Vietnam's ratification of the United Nations (UN) Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment ( CAT).

In bilateral dialogue on human rights, the Swiss foreign minister said his country is pleased with Vietnam's progresses in the issue and expects to enhance dialogue so that Vietnam would continue these progresses in the coming years.

Switzerland has joined hand with Vietnam in sharing its experience during the process of amending and supplementing the Criminal Procedure Code.

"This is an opportunity for us to share our view with Vietnam on death penalty as well as crimes under death penalty for Vietnam to refer to," said Burkhalter.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, for his part, welcomed the Swiss government's decision to open a consulate general in the country's southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City.

Minh said after successful talks in the spirit of friendship, mutual understanding and trust, they are delighted to see positive developments in Vietnam-Switzerland relations in all areas of politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, investment, development cooperation, education and training.

The two sides have conducted frequent exchanges of all-level visits as well as implemented effective political mechanisms such as political consultation, and dialogue on issues relating human rights, said Minh.

There are currently many Swiss companies to invest and run businesses in Vietnam, Minh told reporters.

The two officials also agreed to create favorable conditions for the two countries' enterprises to invest in each other as well as expand cooperation in other areas such as education-training, science-technology, healthcare, culture, sports, and tourism.

Two officials affirmed the two governments' determination to boost negotiations and signing of the FTA between Vietnam and EFTA.

The pact is expected to be an equal one with high standards, which pays due attention to the interests of all parties and takes disparities in development levels into consideration, said Minh, adding that after being signed, the agreement will open up new opportunities for business communities of two countries and two regions.

Vietnam appreciates the development assistance Switzerland has granted for Vietnam in the past years.

The Switzerland-sponsored projects have been effectively implemented, helping Vietnam gain socio-economic achievements as well as fulfill many among UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ahead of time, Minh said at the press briefing.

Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter is paying an official visit to Vietnam from Monday to Wednesday at the invitation of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. Endi