Taking place as the two countries celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations and following the establishment of their Comprehensive Partnership, the visit is expected to deepen political ties, promote substantive cooperation, and usher Viet Nam-Switzerland relations into a new stage of development.
Over 55 years of building trust and laying the foundations for cooperation, Viet Nam and Switzerland have maintained friendly relations and gradually expanded cooperation across a wide range of fields. The elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership in January 2025 reflected the determination of both sides to advance relations into a new phase.
Switzerland is an important trade and investment partner of Viet Nam in Europe, with two-way trade exceeding 1 billion USD in 2025. It is also one of the few Western European countries that continues to provide development cooperation assistance to Viet Nam. The two countries have consistently coordinated with and supported each other at multilateral forums.
Within the framework of its Southeast Asia Strategy for 2024-2026, Switzerland attaches importance to Viet Nam’s position and role and gives priority to strengthening comprehensive cooperation with the country. It also seeks to leverage ties with Viet Nam to deepen its relations with ASEAN countries and the Asia-Pacific region.
With Viet Nam’s increasingly prominent role in Southeast Asia, along with its market size and long-term growth prospects, cooperation with Viet Nam offers Switzerland further opportunities to expand its economic presence, promote investment and strengthen regional connectivity.
Switzerland has notable strengths in technology, innovation, pharmaceuticals, finance and high-tech manufacturing, while Viet Nam enjoys a strategic location in Asia and an extensive network of free trade agreements. The two economies therefore have significant potential to complement each other.
An increasing number of Swiss businesses are showing interest in the Vietnamese market, seeking partners and developing new cooperation projects. Around 100 Swiss corporations and enterprises are currently investing and operating effectively in Viet Nam.
One of the most anticipated outcomes of President Guy Parmelin’s official visit is stronger economic, trade and investment cooperation, particularly with regard to the Free Trade Agreement between Viet Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
The two sides concluded negotiations on July 2, 2026, on a relatively comprehensive agreement covering trade in goods, services, investment, intellectual property, government procurement, sustainable development, small- and medium-sized enterprises, as well as cooperation and capacity building.
Completing and moving towards the signing of the FTA will not only facilitate greater market access for goods from both sides, but also establish a more stable, transparent and predictable legal framework for cross-border business activities.
This would provide an important basis for enterprises from both sides to develop long-term investment strategies, expand supply chains and strengthen links with international markets. It would also lay the groundwork for deeper economic relations between Viet Nam and EFTA member states, including Switzerland, while enabling businesses to increase investment, broaden cooperation and make better use of the potential of each other’s markets.
President Guy Parmelin’s visit affirms that the Party and State of Viet Nam attach importance to and wish to further promote bilateral relations with Switzerland in a deeper, more effective and substantive manner, commensurate with the new framework of ties and responsive to the interests and needs of both sides.
To concretely implement the foreign policy adopted at the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and relevant resolutions of the Politburo, while further strengthening friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and other countries, including EFTA members, President Guy Parmelin’s visit reaffirms the importance the Party and State of Viet Nam attach to relations with Switzerland and their desire to further deepen bilateral ties in an effective and substantive manner, commensurate with the new framework of relations and responsive to the interests and needs of both sides.
The visit provides an opportunity for Vietnamese and Swiss leaders and businesses to exchange views and identify potential areas of cooperation that draw on the strengths of each side, such as innovation, the development of global financial centres, high-tech human resource training, green transition, and responses to global challenges.
Through such cooperation, the two sides can more effectively realise the substance of the Comprehensive Partnership and generate stronger momentum for bilateral relations.
It is also an important occasion to promote external relations through Party, parliamentary and people-to-people channels, while enhancing cooperation in scientific and technological research and innovation among universities, research institutes and businesses of the two countries.
With a foundation of friendship nurtured over many decades, together with strong political determination and complementary economic interests, Viet Nam and Switzerland have solid grounds to further deepen their Comprehensive Partnership in an increasingly effective and substantive manner, for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
