Hanoi (VNA) – Acting President Vo Thi Anh Xuan on February 22hosted receptions for the Ambassadors of Switzerland, Malaysia and Cambodia to Vietnam whocame to present their credentials.

Receiving Swiss Ambassador Thomas Gass, Xuan affirmed thatVietnam has always attached importance to its traditional friendship andcooperation with Switzerland over the past 50 years.

She proposed the two countries maintain the exchange ofdelegations at all levels, and continue to closely coordinate with and support eachother at multilateral forums and international organisations.

The Acting President also suggested encouraging Swiss enterprises to do long-term business in Vietnam, especially in the fields of greengrowth, digital transformation, circular economy, finance - banking, insurance,manufacturing, hi-tech agriculture, and education - training.

Xuan proposed Switzerland, as the country with an important voice in theEuropean Free Trade Association (EFTA), continue promoting negotiations on theVietnam - EFTA Free Trade Agreement to achieve practical results that are in conformitywith the interests of both sides in the coming time.

Gass expressed his hope that the two countries will continueenhancing political relations, stepping up high-level meetings, and organisingvisits this year.

It is necessary to promote collaboration in education and trade,and people-to-people exchanges, he said, adding that he will help boost SwissFDI inflows to Vietnam thanks to the country’s favourable investmentenvironment.

At the reception for Malaysian Ambassador Tan Yang Thai,Xuan agreed with his proposal of stepping up delegation exchanges this year asthe two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of theestablishment of bilateral diplomatic ties.

She proposed Malaysia create a safe and favourable labourenvironment for Vietnamese labourers in the country on the basis of anagreement on labour cooperation signed in March 2022.

Xuan also proposed speeding up negotiationstowards the early signing of a memorandum of understanding on bilateral defencecooperation and work to build a cooperation agreement on ensuring cyber-security.

The Acting President appreciated and asked the two sides tomaintain active coordination and mutual support at regional and internationalforums and organisations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations.

The Malaysian Ambassador said that he will coordinate withthe authorities of the two countries to organise activities in celebration ofthe 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties.

He asked authorised agencies to create more favourableconditions so that more and more Malaysians will visit or do business inVietnam.

Welcoming Chea Kimtha – the first female ambassador ofCambodia to Vietnam, Xuan showed her belief that the diplomatwill have a successful working tenure, thus contributing to fostering the bilateralrelations.

She affirmed that Vietnam always treasures and gives highpriority to consolidating and enhancing its traditional friendship andall-around collaboration with Cambodia.

The Acting President proposed the two nations continue working with andassisting each other at regional and international forums, for the benefits ofthe two countries' people, and for the development of ASEAN.

Chea Kimtha vowed to exert efforts to help step up theimplementation of the signed cooperation agreement as well as people-to-peopleexchanges, and intensify communications for the two nations' people, especially youths,to understand more about the bilateral relations and continue developing these ties./.