Vietnam and Switzerland put education and innovation at centre of ties

Education, training and scientific and technological cooperation will become priorities for Vietnam and Switzerland under an agreement reached by their leaders in Hanoi on October 17, Vietnam News Agency reported. Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung met Swiss President Guy Parmelin during the latter’s official visit.

Following the signing of VEFTA, the trade agreement linking Vietnam with the European Free Trade Association, Hung urged efforts to bring it into force quickly. He called for bilateral trade to double in the near future. Both leaders committed to expanding investment cooperation, with seaport infrastructure among the areas identified.

Hung also requested Swiss expertise for Vietnam’s planned international financial centre and help connecting it to major financial centres overseas. His proposals covered financial technology, green finance, investment funds and asset management, alongside crypto assets, international bonds and carbon credits.

Parmelin offered to share Swiss expertise in fields including precision machinery, manufacturing and insurance. He suggested building connections between Crypto Valley in Switzerland and Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem, as well as pursuing cooperation on quantum technology, blockchain and AI.

The leaders backed stronger connections among businesses, universities, research institutions and innovation centres. They also agreed to deepen collaboration on vocational and higher education, the digital economy and green energy. Parmelin emphasised vocational programmes designed around employers’ needs and expressed readiness to make visas easier to obtain for Vietnamese citizens.

Environmental cooperation will cover cutting emissions, managing and reusing water, agronomic research and sustainable agriculture. The visit coincided with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries.