Austrian commerce official impressed by Vietnam’s development
Vienna (VNA) – Regional Manager for
Asia-Pacific of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) Johannes Brunner has expressed
his impression on Vietnam’s development, especially its positive economic
growth in the first eight months of this year despite the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of
Vietnam’s National Day (September 2) in Vienna on September 19, Brunner said trade
between Austria and Vietnam remains stable despite the pandemic since the beginning
of this year, adding that once the pandemic is under control, the two countries’
businesses will have a chance to explore each other’s markets and seek
opportunities with the taking effect of the European Union - Vietnam Free Trade
Agreement and the coming launch of the WKO Office in Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Le Dung highlighted
Vietnam’s economic achievements and rising stature over the past years. In the first eight months of this year, trade between Vietnam and Austria reached 2.2
billion USD and Austria became the fifth largest trade partner of Vietnam in
Europe.
On the occasion, he also thanked the Austrian
Government for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in
the country.
About multilateral diplomacy, Dung said Vietnam has fulfilled
its role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council,
ASEAN Chair 2020, and Chair of the ASEAN Vienna Committee with the task of coordinating activities of member states at multilateral forums. Cooperation
between Vietnam and international organisations in Vienna has become
increasingly closer.
In response to the COVID-19
pandemic, Vietnam worked closely with and received support from the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to adopt nuclear technology in the
development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, which partly helped the country effectively
curb the pandemic with over 1,000 infection cases since its outbreak and mitigate
community transmissions, he said./.