Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan and Swiss Vice President and Economic Minister Loris Leuthard.

In the meeting with Vice President Loris Leuthard, the two sides exchanged information about social-economic development situation of each country and measures to cope with the ongoing financial crisis.

Vice President Leuthard confirmed that Switzerland always considers Vietnam as top priority in its development assistance policy, including assistance for Vietnam to integrate into the world economy in the post-WTO period.

To promote trade and investment cooperation with Vietnam, Switzerland urged Vietnam to consider negotiation of the establishment of a free trade area with the European Free Trade Area (EFTA), which includes Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein. The two sides agreed to assign their experts to research this issue.

Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan said education and training is a key field for cooperation between the two countries. Switzerland welcomed Vietnam’s proposal for signing of a framework cooperation agreement on tourism training and asked Vietnam to consider the opening of a direct air route between the two countries.

In the meeting with the Swiss Home Affairs Minister Pascal Couchepin and the State Secretary for Education and Research Mauro Dell’Ambrogio, the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation in education and training.

Accordingly, Swiss pledged to assist Vietnam in the training of tourism, restaurant, hotel, finance and banking and some hi-tech fields. Switzerland will also help Vietnam train at least 10-15 doctors per years (granting 2-3 full scholarships).

VietNamNet/Government’s website