Viet Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) have concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA), which is expected to open a new chapter in bilateral cooperation, creating a solid framework for promoting trade and investment, and expanding collaboration across sectors, the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung on March 17 received Helene Budliger Artieda, Director of Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, who is on a working visit to Viet Nam from March 15 to 17.

Viet Nam and Switzerland have reaffirmed their determination to speed up negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between Viet Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), aiming to largely wrap up discussions during the 20th negotiation round in Ha Noi, officials said on March 16.

The 19th round of negotiations for the free trade agreement (FTA) between Viet Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, is taking place in Geneva with highly positive signals, reflecting strong political determination on both sides to conclude the deal at an early date.