This is the first overseas trip of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to Switzerland, contributing to strengthening political trust and deepening the Vietnam - Switzerland Comprehensive Partnership, promoting bilateral cooperation in many fields. Vietnam - Switzerland relations have developed positively in many fields after more than half a century of establishing diplomatic relations. In terms of trade, Switzerland is Vietnam's leading partner in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA - consisting of 4 countries Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), with trade turnover of the two countries in 2024 reaching 811 million USD, in the first 5 months of 2025 alone reaching 375 million USD.
Switzerland increasingly values Vietnam's role, especially Vietnam's deep integration after signing an FTA with the European Union (EU). The two sides are actively promoting negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and EFTA.
Switzerland's investment in Vietnam is currently over 2.1 billion USD, ranking 6th in Europe, 20th/147 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. In January 2025, on the occasion of attending the 55th World Economic Forum Annual Conference in Davos, Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter agreed to establish a Comprehensive Partnership between the two countries.
The participation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man at the 6th World Parliament Chairmen's Conference (WCSP 6) in Switzerland at the invitation of President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Tulia Ackson and IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong is an opportunity for Vietnam to continue to actively and responsibly contribute to the common activities of IPU and the United Nations; promote parliamentary cooperation between Vietnam with countries and international organizations, promote the role and position of Vietnam and the Vietnamese Parliament in the international arena.
This year's conference has the theme "A world in chaos: Parliamentary cooperation and multilateralism for peace, fairness and prosperity for all people", reflecting the common concern of the international community in the context of the current extremely complicated world situation; at the same time, it hopes to promote the important role of multilateral parliamentary diplomacy in promoting peace, cooperation and development for the benefit of people around the world, especially in planning and supervising the implementation of policies and laws.
National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man is expected to speak at the plenary session and hold bilateral meetings with the President and General Secretary of the World Parliamentary Union and the President of the Parliament, the President of the National Assembly of many countries...; thereby, promoting bilateral relations in all fields, including parliamentary cooperation. The speech of the National Assembly Chairman is expected to convey a message about Vietnam's guidelines and policies, especially the guidelines of cooperation for peace and sustainable development around the world. The message is expected to also focus on assessing the current world situation and the need to promote multilateral cooperation, in which parliamentaries of countries must join hands to promote cooperation measures for peace, stability and sustainable development worldwide.
Previously, on the afternoon of July 26, local time, before concluding his official visit to Morocco, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man received President of the Morocco - Vietnam Friendship Association, meeting with officials and staff of the Embassy and the Vietnamese community in Morocco.
