
Mr Burkhalter, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), opened the new Swiss Consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon of the same day. The new Swiss Consulate general is a tangible sign of the close relations between Switzerland and Vietnam. In his address, Mr Burkhalter said that this new representation showed how firmly Switzerland believed in the strong potential of Vietnam and its people, with the new Consulate general holding out the prospect of further expanding the economic ties between the two countries, reflecting one of its key tasks: providing support for Swiss companies in Vietnam.