Hanoi, Oct. 19 -- Norwegian Ambassador Stein Iversen and Swiss Ambassador Thomas Gass have welcomed the free trade agreement signed in Hanoi on October 18 between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), whose members are Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Milestone elevates bilateral ties to new level Iversen told the press that the lengthy negotiations reflect the complexity of the issues and the breadth of cooperation, as well as the parties' commitment to their ties. The agreement will usher in a new phase in relations, he said, adding that the pact will give firms from the four EFTA states more access to the Vietnamese market and make it easier for Vietnamese goods to enter theirs. Gass, for his part, said...