Austria supports and will exert efforts to expedite the signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Vienna on Monday.

The meeting was part of PM Phuc’s official visit to Austria, which is within the framework of his business trip to Europe from October 14 to 21, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

The head of government was scheduled to pay official visits to Austria, Belgium, and Denmark, join working sessions with the European Union, and attend the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

During the conversation with Chancellor Kurz, both leaders expressed their delight at the fine development of bilateral relations since the two countries established diplomatic ties on December 1, 1972.

The Austrian leader stressed that PM Phuc’s visit marked an important milestone in bilateral relations, adding that Vietnam’s achievements in development and integration have helped elevate its role in the region and the world.

Both sides exchanged views on measures to boost bilateral collaboration in all fields, ranging from politics, diplomacy, defense and security to economy, trade, investment, culture, and tourism.

Vietnam remains Austria’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia while Austria maintains its position as one of the top 10 export markets of Vietnam in the European Union (EU), the leaders highlighted.

Austria backs and will push for the early signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Chancellor Kurz remarked.

PM Phuc thanked the Austrian government for the support and preferential loans for projects on railways, healthcare, and vocational training in Vietnam.

Favorable conditions will be provided for the two countries’ enterprises to enhance investment and cooperation in such fields as transport infrastructure, clean energy, science-technology, tourism, healthcare, and especially smart city development.

The leaders were committed to promoting bilateral cooperation at international forums and organizations, namely the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the ASEAN-EU, and the United Nations.

They affirmed the importance of maintaining peace, security, and stability for cooperation and development, as well as settling disputes in the East Vietnam Sea by peaceful measures in line with international law.

Following the talks, PM Phuc and Chancellor Kurz witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents in healthcare, science-technology, and e-commerce.

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