President Vo Van Thuong and President Alexander Van der Bellen hold talks in Vienna on July 24, 2023. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

President Thuong said that Vietnam wishes to foster friendship and all-around collaboration with Austria, its reliable friend in the European Union.

He proposed that both sides continue working closely and make full use of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Mr. Thuong asked Austria to create favourable conditions for Austrian firms to increase investments in Vietnam, particularly in the automobile support industry, railway, medical equipment, and pharmaceuticals. 

He called on Austria to push the European Commission to remove the yellow card warning against Vietnam’s aquatic products.

President Thuong proposed Austria prioritise Vietnam in its official development assistance (ODA) funding and issue more favourable loan policies, particularly for projects in health care, environment protection, vocational training, firefighting, and rescue operations. 

President Van der Bellen said that Austria values the long-standing friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, which was established in 1972.

Austria considers Vietnam an important partner in its foreign policy in Asia-Pacific, especially in trade and investment, he said, adding that the country wants to further enhance bilateral relations in economics, education and culture.

Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of peace, stability, safety, security and freedom of navigation in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea). They also expressed support for international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).