(VOV) - Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien has expressed appreciation for Austria’s assistance to Vietnam during its past struggle for national independence and its current process of national construction. At a ceremony in Vienna yesterday, Minister Tien said Austria’s establishment of diplomatic ties with Vietnam 40 years ago when the Southeast Asian nation was enduring considerable hardship showed its love of peace and great support for Vietnam’s national independence. The minister thanked Austrian donors and friends for helping Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange. She spoke highly of the implementation of cooperation agreements in infrastructure development, environmental protection, tertiary education, industry, trade, tourism, and healthcare. On Monday, Minister Tien held a working session with her Austrian counterpart Aloi Stoger and visited a number of Austrian medical facilities.