President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Switzerland Philipp Rosler. Photo: VNA

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception on June 28 for Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Switzerland Philipp Rosler and a Swiss business delegation who are visiting Vietnam to seek opportunities for trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Germany and Switzerland, according to VNA.

The State leader hailed the contributions by Rosler to the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership either as a German politician in the past or a business leader and Vietnam’s Honorary Consul in Switzerland at present.

Noting the fast recovery of tourism in Vietnam, President Phuc said he hopes more and more tourists and businesses from Europe will come to Vietnam.

According to the President, although the EVFTA has opened up opportunities for trade and investment ties between Vietnam and Germany and Switzerland, bilateral trade between Vietnam and those countries decreased in 2021 due to the pandemic.

Phuc urged the three countries to act to further bolster economic, trade and investment cooperation.

He asked Rosler, who is also former Vice Chancellor of Germany and a Vietnamese-origin person, to continue working to promote the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership and the Vietnam-Switzerland friendship and collaboration, particularly the early signing of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

He added that he hopes European businesses will invest in innovation and hi-tech fields in Vietnam.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Switzerland Philipp Rosler. Photo: VNA

The Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Switzerland informed his host that he is advancing cooperation projects on tourism development, particularly human resources training.

He called for the early opening of a direct air service between Vietnam and Switzerland, and pledged to advocate the early signing of the FTA between Vietnam and the EFTA.

Dr. Rösler is a Vietnamese-German cardiothoracic surgeon and former politician who served as the Minister of Health, the Minister of Economics and Technology, the Vice-Chancellor of Germany from 2011 to 2013, and recently the Honorary Consul of Vietnam to Switzerland.

Born in the southern province of Soc Trang, Rösler was the first cabinet minister and vice-chancellor of Asian descent in Germany.

He became the Chairman of the Advisory Board of VinaCapital Ventures in 2019 and an independent board member of Loc Troi Group in 2020.

Dr. Philipp Rösler expresses his determination in this new role. “By joining VCF and Care to Rise, I hope to use my voice to raise awareness and call for actions at the international level to provide timely assistance to those who have already endured so much as a result of the pandemic. I am committed to dedicating my time and efforts to build a healthier and happier Vietnam – my country of birth,” Dr. Rösler stressed.

Swiss direct investment in Vietnam currently amounts to over USD 2 billion. Source: FDFA Last year, Vietnam and Switzerland marked the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the 30th year of development cooperation. Switzerland now is Vietnam’s sixth largest investor from Europe and the 20th globally.

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