Vietnam, Switzerland seek faster ratification of EFTA trade pact
To Lam also discussed agricultural projects with Senegal and wider economic cooperation with Romania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Vietnam and Switzerland agreed to accelerate procedures for ratifying Vietnam’s trade pact with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), VNA reported. Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President To Lam met Swiss Vice President Ignazio Cassis in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on November 15 during the 20th Francophonie Summit.
The agreement has been signed with EFTA, whose members are Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Lam and Cassis also backed advancing talks to update their countries’ investment protection agreement. They committed to coordinating on the possibility of negotiations for a bilateral carbon-credit trading agreement.
Lam requested Swiss assistance with fintech, an international financial centre and training specialists in semiconductors, AI, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. In a separate meeting, he proposed expanding cooperation with Romania in sectors including electronics, sustainable agriculture, tourism and cyber security. Trade between Vietnam and Romania reached nearly US$557 million in 2025. Romanian President Nicusor Daniel Dan supported Lam’s proposals and said scholarships for Vietnamese students and postgraduate researchers would increase.
With Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Lam called for resources to be mobilised for joint farming projects, including rice and cashew development. Faye said Senegal would help prospective Vietnamese investors by supplying details of projects and incentive policies. Both leaders supported business exploration of opportunities across agriculture, energy, telecommunications, digital technology, mining and infrastructure construction.
Lam also sought better conditions for Vietnamese investors during talks with Congolese President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo. The leaders agreed on measures to improve market access, expand the variety of goods traded and connect businesses. They also supported negotiations and the signing of documents establishing a legal framework for commercial cooperation.
