Vietnam, Czech Republic to boost multi-faceted ties

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh and leaders of the Czech Republic have agreed to bolster ties across the fields during their meetings on June 15 as part of the Vietnamese Vice President’s visit to the European country.

Vice President Thinh held meetings with Czech President Milos Zeman, Senate President Milan Stech, and Vice Speaker of the Parliament Vojtech Filip in Prague on the first day of her working trip on June 15.

She affirmed that Vietnam continually attaches importance to its traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with the Czech Republic while implementing its foreign policy of openness, multilateralization and diversification of international relations.

Czech President Milos Zeman (R) welcomes Vice President ​Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh

Vietnam always opens its door to and creates all favorable conditions for foreign investors, including those from the Czech Republic, she said.

The Czech leaders also emphasized that their country treasures its relations with Vietnam.

The Czech Republic is now one of Vietnam’s leading trade partners in Central and Eastern Europe with two-way trade valued at USD 250-300 million annually.

However, the results have yet to match the two countries’ cooperation potential, especially in energy, environment, science-technology, agriculture, health, education and tourism sectors, they noted.

To better exploit the potential, the two sides agreed to make careful preparations for the fifth meeting of the Vietnam-Czech Republic Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic Cooperation, scheduled for July in Prague. They also noted the need to complete negotiations on and sign an agreement on cultural, educational and training cooperation as soon as possible.

The two sides vowed to intensify close coordination at regional and international forums.

Vietnam pledged support for the Czech Republic’s strengthening of its relations with ASEAN, while the European country affirmed its backing of stronger Vietnam-EU ties and the early signing of the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement as well as EU’s recognition of Vietnam’s market economy status.

Vice President Thinh and leaders of the Czech parliament shared the satisfaction at the good ties between the two legislative bodies with the exchange of delegations to share experience in law making and supervision, which will help promote all-around cooperation between the two countries.

The Vietnamese Vice President thanked the Czech authorities for creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to have stable lives and business in the country, thus promoting their role as a bridge linking Vietnam and the Czech Republic.

She informed the hosts of complicated developments in the East Sea (South China Sea), which she said are affecting peace, stability, maritime and aviation security and safety of nations both inside and outside the region.

Both sides reached a consensus that all disputes should be addressed by peaceful means on the basis of international law.

Vice President Thinh conveyed invitations to visit Vietnam from the Vietnamese President and National Assembly Chairwoman to President Milos Zeman and Senate President Milan Stech, who said they will arrange a visit at a suitable time.