Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem on Saturday completed his three-day visit to Austria, during which he discussed measures to boost bilateral co-operation with Austrian leaders.
At his talks with Austrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger, Khiem said he highly valued Austria's preferential credits to Viet Nam in poverty reduction, grassroots level healthcare, rural development and road projects which had brought practical results, contributing to Viet Nam's socio-economic development.
The two sides were pleased that before Khiem's visit, Viet Nam's Thua Thien-Hue Province and Austria's VAMED AG signed an agreement worth US$22 million sourced from Austria's preferential loans for upgrading medical equipment for a tumour centre of Hue hospital.
They also expressed pleasure at the fast development of economic-trade co-operation between the two countries. In 2010, bilateral trade reached $267 million, recording an average increase of 20 per cent each year.
Austria affirmed continued co-operation with Viet Nam in education and training, culture, music, sports, health care, environment and clean energy.
The European country will continue to support Viet Nam in developing ties with the EU and hopes Viet Nam will help it expand relations with other ASEAN countries and the Southeast Asian region.
The two sides agreed to strengthen co-operation at international forums, especially at the UN, ASEM and international organisations based in Vienna.
They agreed to co-operate closely in making plans and organising activities to mark the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2012, contributing to enhancing friendship, multifaceted co-operation and mutual understanding between the two peoples.
During the visit, Khiem also met with General Director of the International Energy Atomic Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano.
The two sides stressed the special importance of international co-operation in maintaining and ensuring nuclear security.
Viet Nam affirmed its active participation in the upcoming nuclear security meeting to draw lessons in using nuclear energy safely for peaceful purposes in the future.
The IAEA head said the agency would continue to help Viet Nam implement technical assistance projects relating to nuclear energy. — VNS