General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam and his spouse hosted an official welcome ceremony at the National Assembly House on October 17 afternoon for Swiss President Guy Parmelin and his spouse, who are paying a two-day official visit to Vietnam.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (second from right) and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly pose for a photo with Swiss President Guy Parmelin and his spouse Caroline Parmelin. (Photo: VNA)

After the military band performed the national anthems of Switzerland and Vietnam, the two leaders inspected the guard of honour of the Vietnam People’s Army.

Following the welcome ceremony, General Secretary and President Lam, and President Parmelin and their respective high-level delegations held talks, and witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents between the two countries’ ministries and agencies.

Over the past 55 years since establishing diplomatic relations, Vietnam and Switzerland have become reliable and effective partners across various fields. Political trust has continued to be strengthened through visits and high-level meetings.

In January 2025, the two countries established a Comprehensive Partnership, marking a new milestone in the bilateral relations. Since then, their cooperation has continued to deepen and become more effective.

Switzerland is an important trading partner of Vietnam in Europe, while Vietnam is an important trading partner of Switzerland in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Bilateral trade has grown steadily over the years.

Switzerland has increasingly recognised Vietnam’s role, particularly its deepening international integration following the signing of a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU).

In terms of investment, as of October 2026, Switzerland ranked 6th among European investors and 20th among 153 countries and territories investing in the Southeast Asian country.

The enduring friendship over the past 55 years has also been nurtured by solidarity, friendship and regular cultural exchanges between their people.

The two countries have considerable potential to expand collaboration in the fields of education and training, innovation, sustainable development, culture and tourism.

The Swiss President’s visit is expected to provide a foundation for the two countries to embark on a new phase of cooperation, with deeper political ties, more substantive economic engagement and broader prospects for future collaboration.

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King Norodom Sihamoni voiced firm confidence that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, headed by General Secretary and President To Lam, and through the dedicated efforts by the Vietnamese Government, National Assembly, and people, the country will continue to achieve even greater accomplishments in its national construction and development.