Anjuska Marija Weil (second left), President of the Switzerland–Việt Nam Friendship Association. VNA/VNS Photo

GENEVA - President of the Switzerland–Việt Nam Friendship Association Anjuska Marija Weil has expressed her pride in witnessing the rapid growth of Việt Nam, as she and her Swiss comrades once campaigned passionately for the nation's peace and justice.

Speaking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Switzerland ahead of Việt Nam’s 80th National Day on September 2, Weil expressed her delight at the country’s transformation.

“I have closely followed Việt Nam’s development since its independence,” Weil said.

Việt Nam endured great suffering through two resistance wars, and even faced a period of sanctions. Those were incredibly challenging times. But the country remained steadfast, and the results today speak volumes, she said.

“From this perspective, my comrades and I from those earlier years have every reason to be proud. I hope Việt Nam continues to advance in the years ahead.”

Weil also showed her pleasure at the strong and evolving relationship between Việt Nam and Switzerland. She noted several recent milestones, including the 2024 meeting between Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and Swiss President Viola Amherd, as well as visits to Switzerland by high-level Vietnamese delegations led by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính to Davos, and more recently by National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn.

Since its founding, the Switzerland–Việt Nam Friendship Association has played an important role in nurturing bilateral understanding and solidarity, from raising awareness about Việt Nam among the Swiss public to supporting social initiatives such as elderly care and advocacy for Agent Orange/dioxin victims, she said.

In recent years, the association has undertaken a range of humanitarian and development-focused projects, including microfinance, healthcare and education improvements, and community support initiatives for Vietnamese people living in Switzerland. One notable contribution is the sponsorship of the Binh Minh Vietnamese language school in Zurich.

The association also maintains close ties with the Việt Nam Union of Friendship Organisations, the Vietnamese Embassy in Bern and the Permanent Mission of Việt Nam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other international organisations in Geneva.

An annual highlight is the association’s 'Việt Nam Solidarity Day', which sees strong participation from the Vietnamese community in Switzerland.

Weil remarked that the bilateral relationship has deep roots. Swiss entrepreneurs were among the earliest to establish businesses in Việt Nam, and since the formal establishment of diplomatic ties, the connection has only grown stronger.

She welcomed the upgrade of Việt Nam-Switzerland relations to a comprehensive partnership earlier this year and praised Việt Nam’s decision to grant 45-day visa exemptions for Swiss citizens.

This will certainly open new opportunities for deeper cultural and people-to-people exchange, she noted, expressing her hope that the friendship between the two nations will continue to grow stronger in the years to come. VNS