Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen presided over an official welcome ceremony for Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna on Monday morning (local time).
After the welcome ceremony, the two presidents led the high-ranking delegations from the two countries in joint discussions.
Then, President Thuong and his Austrian counterpart are scheduled to attend a press conference and witness the signing of cooperation deals between the two nations.
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen (R) shakes hands with his Vietnamese counterpart Vo Van Thuong at a welcome ceremony for the latter at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria, July 24, 2023. Photo: Vietnam News Agency |
This is the first visit to Austria by a Vietnamese state president in the past 15 years and President Vo Van Thuong’s first official visit to an EU nation. Photo: Vietnam News Agency |
Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong’s Austria visit takes place after the two nations celebrated the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2022. In this photo, President Thuong (L, 2nd), his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen (R, 2nd), and their spouses pose for a group photo at a welcome ceremony for the top Vietnamese official at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, July 24, 2023. Photo: Vietnam News Agency |
Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong, his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen, and their spouses talk after the welcome ceremony at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, July 24, 2023. Photo: Vietnam News Agency |
Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong and his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen hold talks after the welcome ceremony at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, July 24, 2023. Photo: Vietnam News Agency |
Austria was among the first Western nations to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam in December 1972, when the war in Vietnam was still not over. Their bilateral ties have kept growing over the past five decades.
Commenting on the Vietnam - Austria bilateral relations, Ambassador of Vietnam to Austria Nguyen Trung Kien said the relationship between the EU nation and the Southeast Asian country is among Vietnam’s most important relations in the EU.
Austria has been among Vietnam’s top 10 EU trade partners for years, Kien said.
Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam Hans-Peter Glanzer remarked that Austria is seeking to tighten cooperation with Vietnam in economic and education sectors.
The Austrian diplomat added that there is much more room for Austrian investments in Vietnam.
The Southeast Asian nation boasts a dynamic economy, he said, adding that its young population and the growing middle class make the country an attractive destination for Austrian investors.
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