Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with the Executive Board of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe in Prague on April 16.

The leader lauded the union for its activities to support the homeland, and expressed his hope that overseas Vietnamese will help the Vietnamese Government further develop the country.

The Vietnamese Party and State consider overseas Vietnamese an indispensible part of the nation, and create conditions for them to invest in the homeland, he said.

According to UVAE President Hoang Dinh Thang, the union was established in 2016, with an executive board of 30 members from 17 European countries.

Over the past two years, the union has joined efforts to organise community activities at the regional level, he said.

The union has paid attention to external affairs, he said, adding that it has maintained relations with members of the European Parliament (EP).

Representatives of the Executive Board visited the EP twice in Belgium’s Brussels and France’s Strasbourg, during which they called on parliamentarians to support efforts of the Vietnamese community in Europe in integrating into host countries and preserving their culture, along with some issues of Vietnamese’s concern like the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the removal of the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” warning for Vietnamese seafood.

Thang noted his hope that the Vietnamese Government will roll out better policies to encourage local companies, organisations and individuals to invest in the Czech Republic.

The same day, PM Phuc met with Marcel Winter, Honorary President of the Czech-Vietnam Friendship Association.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with Marcel Winter, Honorary President of the Czech-Vietnam Friendship Association.

The leader applauded the association for its contributions to the friendship between the two countries, and noted his hope it will continue to coordinate with the Vietnamese Embassy.

He described Winter, who has visited Vietnam 48 times and worked hard to assist the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic, as a symbol of the friendship.

For his part, Winter expressed his hope that there will soon be a direct flight between Prague and Vietnam.

While in the Czech Republic, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse visited the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in the country. 

While in the Czech Republic, PM Phuc visited the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in the country, during which he urged the embassy to carry forward its role in introducing Vietnam’s foreign investment attraction policies and helping raise trade between the two countries.

The embassy was also asked to protect the rights of Vietnamese citizens in the host country, maintain relations with local authorities and relevant organisations and promote Vietnam to Czech people and businesses.

Also on April 16, PM Phuc met Jiri Smejc, Group Executive Chairman of Home Credit.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) and Jiri Smejc, Group Executive Chairman of Home Credit

At the meeting, the leader said Vietnam is pushing ahead with business environment improvement efforts, which have been acknowledged by major international organisations and groups.

The Vietnamese Government is ready to remove difficulties facing businesses, including Home Credit, he said.

Vietnam will step up cooperation with the Czech Republic in various spheres, the PM stressed, adding this would be an opportunity for Czech investors.

Jiri Smejc said since it entered Vietnam in 2005, Home Credit has become the largest Czech investor in the country in personal loans, with half a million customers.

The company has decided to expand its investment in Vietnam, which has a stable investment environment, and wants to operate in the banking sector, he said.-VNA