Vienna (VNA) - Vietnam always considers Austria an important and reliablepartner in Europe, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told President of the AustrianNational Council Wolfgang Sobotka.

During a meeting with the Austrian leader on October 16 as part of his officialvisit to Austria, PM Phuc suggested the two countries continue to develop thebilateral relations in a more intensive, effective and comprehensive manner inthe time to come.

He highlighted great potential for the two countries to promote cooperation in tradeand investment, and affirmed that Vietnam is constantly improving itsinvestment environment and strongly restructuring its national economy, thusopening up opportunities for Austrian enterprises to invest the Southeast Asiancountry.

PM Phuctook this occasion to thank Austria for providing preferential loans forVietnam, which, he said, have contributed significantly to the nation’sdevelopment process.

He highlighted the importance of the support and assistance from Austria and theinternational community for Vietnam, saying that although Vietnam has become amiddle-income country, it is still facing a range of difficulties, andespecially Vietnam is one of the countries which are the hardest affected byclimate change.

TheVietnamese leader highly evaluated the role played by the National Assembly ofVietnam and the Austrian National Council in strengthening the bilateral ties.

He welcomed the establishment of the Austria-South Asia/Southeast Asia Friendship Parliamentary Group to strengthen legislativeties with the region and Vietnam, expressing his belief that the relationsbetween the two parliaments will continue developing fruitfully in the comingtime.

PM Phuc suggested the Austrian National Council, the South Asia/Southeast Asia Friendship Parliamentary Group supportVietnam’s efforts to foster its comprehensive cooperation with the EuropeanUnion (EU), and urge the EU to early sign and approve the EU-Vietnam Free TradeAgreement (EVFTA).

For hispart, Sobotka said PM Phuc’s visit marks a new milestone in the relationshipbetween Vietnam and Austria.

Henoted that economic and trade ties between Austria and Vietnam remain limited andfail to match up potential of both nations.

Austrian enterprises, especially those operating in the fields of manufacturingindustry, electronics, renewable energy and infrastructure development, arevery interested in the emerging markets like Vietnam, he said,  adding that Austria also wants to cooperatewith Vietnam in the spheres of vocational training, research, and heath care.

Sobotka affirmed that the Austrian National Council will coordinate with theAustrian Government to accelerate the signing of the EVFTA.

The Austrian National Council pays due attention to the observance of internationallaw, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and in ensuring security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, he stressed.-VNA