The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Vietnam opened its Honorary Consular Office on Cat Ba island in the northern city of Hai Phong on June 6.

Vojtech Filip, Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, (R) speaks at the inaugural ceremony

Vojtech Filip, Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, stressed the significance of developing the two countries’ relations, noting that the inauguration of the office marks the fine friendship between the Czech Republic and Hai Phong.

He congratulated Pham Truong on being appointed Honorary Consul of the country in Hai Phong city. He expressed his belief that Truong will help promote the two sides’ cooperation.

The Czech Republic now has 170 Honorary Consular Offices around the world.

On the same day, Vice Chairman Vojtech Filip was hosted by Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Le Van Thanh

Thanh affirmed that the support of Czechoslovakia in the past and the Czech Republic at present for Hai Phong is huge, reflected through the Vietnam- Czechoslovakia Frendship Hospital – the largest of its kind in Hai Phong – and the Vietnam- Czechoslovakia Friendship Labour Cultural Palace where the city’s major events take place.

He expressed his hope that through Filip’s visit, the relationship between the two sides will be lifted to a new height.

The city will do its utmost to foster its cooperation with Czech partners and launch a direct air route to the country, he emphasised.

Hai Phong encourages Czech investments in major projects in the city, Thanh stated, adding that Czech investments account for a small amount of the current 16 billion USD in foreign direct investment in the city.

The guest showed his belief in brighter prospects of the two sides’ cooperation, particularly in economics, culture and sports.

Czech investors are willing to participate in transport infrastructure projects in Hai Phong, he told the host.

The Czech Republic is considering running a cooperative project on health at the Vietnam- Czechoslovakia Frendship Hospital, he added.-VNA