Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam- Austria relations have been consolidated and developed continuously despite effectsof the COVID-19 pandemic, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria and permanent representative of Vietnam to international organisation in Vienna Nguyen TrungKien.

Speaking at a ceremony on October 8 to celebrate Vietnam's 76th NationalDay, the Vietnamese diplomat affirmed that 2021 marksmany important events in bilateral diplomatic ties such as 150 years of Austria'sappointment of an Honorary Consul in Vietnam, and 30 years since Vietnamestablished its embassy in Austria.

Vietnam looks forward to stronger cooperation with Austria in thenear future, especially when the two countries are preparing for the 50th foundinganniversary of diplomatic ties (1972-2022), he said.

Ambassador Kien emphasized that Vietnam is anactive member of international and regional cooperation mechanisms such as theUN, and ASEAN, and always plays an active role in multilateral diplomaticactivities with the specialized agencies of the UN in Vienna.


Ambassador Enno Drofenik, Chief of the ProtocolDepartment of theFederal Ministry for European and Foreign Affairs of Austria highly valued the Vietnam –Austria cooperationin the past time, affirming that the ministry and other Austrian agencies willcontinue to accompany the Vietnamese Embassy in promoting Vietnam-Austriarelations in the time to come.


Dr.Najat Mokhtar, Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), emphasized that Vietnam isan important partner of the IAEA in the Asia-Pacific region and a bright spotin the process of applying nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. In September this year, Vietnam was unanimously elected to the Board of Governors of the IAEA for the 2021-2023 term. 

He expressed his hope that Vietnam will continue to coordinate with IAEA andplay a coordinating role in the region in implementing cooperation projects,especially those on responding to plastic waste (NUTEC Plastic)./.