State President Trần Đại Quang (R) receives Austria’s outgoing Ambassador to Việt Nam Thomas Loidl in Hà Nội yesterday.– VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

HÀ NỘI – State President Trần Đại Quang hailed Austria’s outgoing Ambassador to Việt Nam Thomas Loidl for his efforts to step up bilateral ties and introduce many Austrian businesses to Việt Nam during his reception for the diplomat in Hà Nội yesterday. 

The President lauded the co-operation between the two countries in politics, diplomacy, trade-investment, development co-operation, education-training, and healthcare. 
He cited the 2016 two-way trade value of US$2.8 billion, 10 per cent more than 2015’s figure. Austria currently runs 28 projects with total registered capital of $138 million in Việt Nam, ranking 39th among 116 countries and territories investing in the country. 
He thanked the Austrian Government for providing Official Development Assistance in the fields of railways, healthcare and vocational training. Austria-funded programmes and projects have contributed to Việt Nam’s socio-economic development and international integration. 
President Quang also suggested Austria urge the European Union (EU) to soon sign and ratify the EU-Viet Nam free trade agreement as the document will open up new opportunities for businesses. 
Ambassador Thomas Loidl stressed that Austria had over the past 45 years proven itself a very reliable partner of Việt Nam. 
He agreed that the two countries should hold more high-level visits to enhance their relations while underscoring the importance of cultural co-operation. 
He was glad to see the two countries’ collaboration at multilateral forums and thanked Việt Nam for its support for Austria’s initiatives at international forums and organisations.

Meeting with Slovakian Ambassador

President Quang also praised the effective contributions made by the Slovakian Ambassador to Việt Nam Igor Pacolak during his tenure in Việt Nam, describing it as one of the important factors enhancing the friendly and cooperative ties between Việt Nam and Slovakia. 
During a reception yesterday for the outgoing ambassador, Quang suggested the two sides further uphold the role of the Việt Nam-Slovakia Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation, increase the exchange of visits by ministries, agencies and businesses, and promote trade and investment to further lift two-way trade over the coming years. 
President Quang recommended Slovakian enterprises invest in the fields where Việt Nam has huge demand, such as renewable energy, infrastructure, environmental protection, food processing, and food safety and hygiene. 
The President hoped that the Slovakian government would continue creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese nationals to integrate into the host country, thus helping to increase mutual understanding between the two nations. 
Pacolak, for his part, said during his tenure in Việt Nam, the two countries had seen more than 30 visits from the deputy ministerial level upwards and signed about 20 cooperation agreements. Việt Nam currently ranks 14th in the list of Slovakia’s trade partners. 

The ambassador thanked Việt Nam for supporting Slovakia at international forums and affirmed that the European country always supported Viet Nam – an active member on the international stage. — VNS