The ceremony, hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in the Czech Republic, provided an opportunity to look back on more than seven decades of friendship, cooperation and close ties between Viet Nam and the Central European nation.
In his remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Hoai Nam highlighted the sacred significance of September 2, 1945, when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square, proclaiming birth to the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam and opening an era of independence, freedom and national sovereignty.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Duong Hoai Nam (right) presents Prime Minister Andrej Babiš with an illustrated portrait of the Czech PM. |
He expressed gratitude for the support and solidarity extended to Viet Nam by international friends, including former Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic today. Czechoslovakia was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Viet Nam in 1950, laying the foundation for a friendship nurtured by generations of leaders and people of both countries.
The diplomat said Viet Nam-Czech relations are entering a new phase under the Strategic Partnership framework, with huge potential for cooperation in economy, trade, defense, education, science and technology and other fields. He also expressed his belief that Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s visit to Viet Nam in late November will provide fresh momentum for bilateral ties.
Addressing the event, Babiš said that despite the geographical distance, the two countries enjoy close ties, with people serving as their most sustainable foundation. He praised the Vietnamese community’s contribution to Czech society and noted that young Czech people of Vietnamese origin are increasingly active in various fields, serving as bridges between the two cultures.
Viet Nam is an important trade partner of the Czech Republic in Southeast Asia, he said, noting that the two sides are expanding cooperation in industry, energy, transport, aviation and technology, and emerging areas. He highlighted preparations for the launch of a direct Prague-Hanoi air route as a symbol of growing connectivity, helping promote people-to-people exchanges, connection among businesses, and tourism cooperation.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček said Viet Nam is currently his country’s most important trade partner in Southeast Asia, with two-way trade reaching about USD 5 billion for the first time in 2025, and expected to rise to around USD 7 billion this year.
Havlíček said Viet Nam’s rapid economic growth, infrastructure development and high-tech industry are creating more opportunities for Czech businesses to expand investment and cooperation.
Chamber of Deputies President Tomio Okamura also highlighted the Vietnamese community’s role, saying generations of people who studied and worked in former Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have forged deep connections with the country, creating a strong social foundation for bilateral ties.
On the occasion, an exhibition on President Ho Chi Minh’s journey of connecting and spreading the spirit of international solidarity was held in the Central European country, featuring documents and images on his life and contribution, as well as the history of Viet Nam-Czechoslovakia and Viet Nam-Czech relations.
Source: VNA