Vietnam, Austria look to beef up friendly relations

The Vietnam - Austria relations have been consolidated and developed continuously despite effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria and permanent representative of Vietnam to international organisation in Vienna Nguyen Trung Kien.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Nguyen Trung Kien speaking at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA)
Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Nguyen Trung Kien speaking at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at a ceremony on October 8 to celebrate Vietnam's 76th National Day, the Vietnamese diplomat affirmed that 2021 marks many important events in bilateral diplomatic ties such as 150 years of Austria's appointment of an Honorary Consul in Vietnam, and 30 years since Vietnam established its embassy in Austria.

Vietnam looks forward to stronger cooperation with Austria in the near future, especially when the two countries are preparing for the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties (1972-2022), he said.

Ambassador Kien emphasised that Vietnam is an active member of international and regional cooperation mechanisms such as the UN, and ASEAN, and always plays an active role in multilateral diplomatic activities with the specialized agencies of the UN in Vienna.

Ambassador Enno Drofenik, Chief of the Protocol Department of the Federal Ministry for European and Foreign Affairs of Austria highly valued the Vietnam –Austria cooperation in the past time, affirming that the ministry and other Austrian agencies will continue to accompany the Vietnamese Embassy in promoting Vietnam-Austria relations in the time to come.

Dr. Najat Mokhtar, Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), emphasised that Vietnam is an important partner of the IAEA in the Asia-Pacific region and a bright spot in the process of applying nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. In September this year, Vietnam was unanimously elected to the Board of Governors of the IAEA for the 2021-2023 term.

He expressed his hope that Vietnam will continue to coordinate with IAEA and play a coordinating role in the region in implementing cooperation projects, especially those on responding to plastic waste (NUTEC Plastic).