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| Seeing the President and his wife off at the airport were the Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam and the Italian Ambassador to Vietnam. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
Associate Professor, Dr. Alfred Gerstl, Chairman of the Austria-Vietnam Association (GÖV), commented that the official visit to the Republic of Austria by President Vo Van Thuong demonstrates the close relationship between the two countries in the context of Austria and Vietnam regularly maintaining delegation exchanges at the highest political level.
In an interview with the press, Mr. Alfred Gerstl said that in addition to regular delegation exchanges, most recently the visit to Vietnam by Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg in April 2023 in response to the visit of his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son last year on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Austrian business delegations also regularly visit Vietnam, demonstrating the importance of economic relations between the two countries.
Not only economic interests, Austria - as well as the European Union (EU) in general - is very interested in peace and stability in Southeast Asia. However, according to Mr. Alfred Gerstl, the contribution that small and neutral Austria can make to maintaining peace and security is still modest.
Austria, together with the European Commission and other EU countries, can use diplomatic channels to call for adherence to a rules-based multilateral order in the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia, especially in the South China Sea – where trade routes are of vital importance to Europe.
According to Associate Professor Alfred Gerstl, for the EU and Austria, the Indo-Pacific region, especially Southeast Asia, is becoming increasingly important economically and strategically. Given Vietnam’s pivotal role in Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), European countries are increasingly keen to strengthen relations with Vietnam.
According to him, in this effort, Austria has a great advantage because it was one of the first European countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1972. The Doi Moi process with the opening of Vietnam's economy has created new momentum for this relationship.
In the 1990s, after the end of the Cold War and Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN in 1995, the same year Austria joined the EU, cooperation between the two countries was further strengthened. A symbol of this was the visit of then Austrian Federal President Thomas Klestil to Vietnam in 1995.
Three years later, the Austrian Embassy in Hanoi was opened, next to an Austrian foreign trade center in Ho Chi Minh City. Today, the special economic relationship between the two countries has developed remarkably.
In recent years, Vietnam has become Austria's most important trading partner in Southeast Asia. Austria mainly imports electronics, especially mobile phones, as well as footwear and clothing, while food, metal products and furniture are becoming increasingly important items. In return, Austria exports machinery, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals and medical instruments to Vietnam.
Vietnam is also becoming increasingly attractive to Austria and the EU as an investment and manufacturing location, given its good integration into regional and global production and supply chains. Vietnam could become an important regional hub, especially if its infrastructure is further improved.
Austria currently has nearly 60 companies with branches in Vietnam, with a total investment of about 500 million euros. Austria has high expertise in areas that Vietnam needs, such as renewable energy, water treatment and waste recycling. Therefore, the two sides have great prospects for further deepening bilateral relations.
In order to further strengthen relations between the two countries, according to GÖV President Gerstl, in addition to regular mutual visits by senior leaders, there needs to be closer dialogue between businesses of the two countries.
In addition, the scientific community of both sides also needs to have continuous exchanges as well as increase student exchanges between universities. An interesting project that is currently beneficial to the people of both countries is the program to send Vietnamese nurses and caregivers to Austria to study and work, in which students learn German in Vietnam and then receive professional training in Austria.
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| Associate Professor, Dr. Alfred Gerstl, Chairman of the Austria-Vietnam Association (GÖV). (Source: VNA) |
In addition to these exchanges, the establishment of partnerships between Austrian states and Vietnamese provinces should also be promoted. With their experts and networks, the Austria-Vietnam Association and the Vietnam-Austria Friendship Association can assist in establishing the necessary contacts and contacts in this regard.
Sharing about the contributions of the Austria-Vietnam Association in promoting bilateral relations, President Gerstl said that since its establishment in 1975, GÖV has strived to bring information about Vietnam to the Austrian people as well as support people in Vietnam.
After the war ended and the country was reunified, GÖV's top priority was to help rebuild Vietnam. In the late 1990s, GÖV sponsored the Mam Non 6 orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City; provided financial support for the construction of a kindergarten... and in the following years supported many more school and kindergarten projects in Ben Tre province.
According to Mr. Gerstl, GÖV is very interested in Vietnam's economic and political development, as well as Vietnam's foreign policy and its growing strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific region.
The head of GÖV said that even though Vietnam has a population almost 10 times larger than Austria, he sees surprising similarities in the way the two countries deal with big countries, especially their neighbors. Both countries are trying to maintain friendly relations with all major powers as well as with smaller countries and to avoid one-sided dependence.
According to Mr. Gerstl, Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Nguyen Trung Kien or his predecessor Peter Jankowitsch - a veteran diplomat and Austrian Foreign Minister, who was Chairman of GÖV for more than 20 years (until the end of 2022), are people who have made important contributions to mutual understanding and friendship between Austria and Vietnam.
According to President Gerstl, GÖV is currently working to expand cultural activities in addition to organizing events and scientific presentations for the public, including plans to hold exhibitions of Vietnamese visual artists.
GÖV also actively supports cultural events of the Vietnamese community in Austria, further promoting the Austrian arts and culture which are of great interest in Vietnam. These activities aim to encourage and motivate people in both countries to contribute more to enhancing understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
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