At the talks between Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Andrej Babis

The two PM held talks to inform each other about the political and economic situations in their respective countries as well as their priorities in foreign policy.

They also discussed measures to boost bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual concerns.

PM Phuc affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to developing the traditional friendship with countries in Central Europe, especially the Czech Republic, and recognised the achievements the Czech Republic has gained on the path of national development.

Meanwhile, PM Andrej Babis highly valued Vietnam’s accomplishments in economic development and international integration and reiterated the Czech Republic’s strong desire to promote friendly and win-win relations with Vietnam.

The two sides agreed to work closely together in celebration of the 70th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties (1950-2020) while maintaining high-level delegation exchanges between ministries, departments and localities to deepen bilateral cooperation.

The two PMs expressed their satisfaction over the growth in bilateral trade and affirmed they would enhance cooperation to improve trade balance.

They highlighted the crucial role of the Vietnam-Czech Republic joint commission on economic cooperation in tapping economic, trade and investment cooperation opportunities between the two countries, and agreed to carefully prepare for the seventh session of the commission which will take place in Prague in 2020.

The Czech Republic agreed to support the early signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

The two sides concurred that these agreements will help strengthen relations between Vietnam and the EU and the Czech Republic in particular.

The PMs said they will urge Vietnamese and Czech ministries, departments and partners to step up collaboration in agriculture, science-technology, environment, climate change adaptation, energy, education-training, and human resources development as well as culture, tourism, justice and law.

They welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in geology and mining.

The two sides spoke highly of their sound bilateral relations in defence and security, and agreed to boost cooperation in this field.

The PMs suggested opening a direct air route between the two countries soon, which will help promote tourism, stressing that the early signing of an agreement on air transport between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU will create new opportunities for the two sides’ airlines and passengers.

The two sides expressed their strong support for multilateralism and multilateral trade, agreeing to strengthen coordination at regional and international forums and organisations, especially the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Forum.

They emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and stability, promoting security, safety and freedom of aviation and navigation in the East Sea, and addressing disputes via peaceful means and in line with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

PM Phuc thanked the Czech Republic for supporting the overseas Vietnamese community in the European country, while PM Babis highly appreciated the significant contributions of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic to promoting the bilateral friendship.

The PMs said they will take a look at issues related to entry and exit procedures between the two countries.

The two sides expressed their satisfaction over the outcomes of the visit to the Czech Republic by PM Phuc, considering this an important political event to boost bilateral cooperation.

On the occasion, PM Phuc invited his Czech counterpart to visit Vietnam, which was accepted.

During his trip to the Czech Republic, PM Phuc also met with President Miloz Zeman and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Radek Vondracek.

He also attended the Czech Republic – Vietnam Business Forum and met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in the host country.

PM Phuc calls for stronger Vietnam-Czech ties in potential fields

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) meets with Czech President Milos Zeman in Prague on April 17

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a meeting with President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman in Prague on April 17, part of his official visit to the European nation.

PM Phuc affirmed that Vietnam always treasures and wishes to enhance the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with traditional friends in East-Central Europe, and the Czech Republic is a priority among them.

He noted with satisfaction the recent progress in bilateral relations in multiple spheres, adding that the two countries have maintained delegation exchanges at all levels, including a State visit to the Czech Republic by then President Truong Tan Sang in 2015 and a similar trip to Vietnam by President Zeman in 2017.

The Vietnamese Government leader applauded the encouraging developments in bilateral economic, trade and investment partnerships. He called on both sides to promote collaboration in the fields they have potential for such as tourism, air transport, and mining.

He also thanked leaders and all-level authorities of the Czech Republic for creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese people to settle down in the country, thereby helping to bolster the countries’ friendship and cooperation.

At the meeting, PM Phuc also asked the Czech Republic and President Zeman to support the early signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement.

For his part, President Zeman affirmed that the Czech Republic attaches importance to the traditional friendship and cooperation with Vietnam.

He appreciated PM Phuc’s visit, voicing his belief that with the nearly-70-year relationship, the large number of Vietnamese who used to study in the Czech Republic, and the community of over 65,000 Vietnamese in the country, bilateral relations boast huge potential for stronger development in the future.

He also expressed his delight at the two sides’ active implementation of the deals signed during his trip to Vietnam in 2017, including the launch of a direct air route linking Hanoi and Prague.

With the signing and ratification of the EVFTA, which the Czech Republic completely supports, the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the countries will enjoy stronger and more substantive and effective strides in the coming time, the President added.

PM meets Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia leader in Prague

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) shakes hands with Chairman of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia Vojtech Filip in Prague on April 17.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met Chairman of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) Vojtech Filip in Prague on April 17 as part of his visit to the Czech Republic.

The PM said that despite geographical distance, the people of Vietnam and the Czech Republic have given each other warm support. Vietnamese people remember how the Czech friends helped during the country’s struggle for independence and national construction, he stated.

Expressing his delight at growing ties between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the KSCM, the Vietnamese leader thanked the KSCM and Filip for the party’s support to Vietnam. As Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic’s Parliament, Filip has worked to enhance cooperation between the two parliaments, he noted.

For his part, the KSCM leader expressed pleasure at the sound partnership between the two countries, stating that he believes signed deals between the two countries will be realised soon. He pledged to closely supervise the implementation of agreements reached during talks between PM Phuc and his Czech counterpart, while continuing to foster the partnership between the two parliaments.

Revealing that he plans to visit Vietnam, he said he hopes to fly on a new direct flight between the two countries by then.

PM Phuc lauded the Czech Republic’s recognition of the Vietnamese Czech community in the country as an ethnic minority group.

Holding that economic, trade and investment collaboration is key, the PM said that the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) is of significance to both the EU and Vietnam, helping businesses from the EU and the Czech Republic access the Vietnamese market.

He proposed that Filip help speed up the signing of the EVFTA and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). He said a Hanoi-Prague direct air route will be launched soon and Filip will be one of the first passengers.

On the occasion, Filip presented PM Phuc with a book entitled “Hoa cuc xanh” (Green Daisy) by Karel Capek, which has been translated into Vietnamese.

The same day, PM Phuc met with leaders of Austrian company VAMED Engineering, during which the Prime Minister welcomed VAMED to expand its investment in Vietnam and asked the firm to continue implementing health technology projects in the country.

Before concluding his visit to the Czech Republic, the PM visited the Sapa trade centre – a trading hub of the Vietnamese community about 15km from central Prague.

PM Phuc and his entourage left Prague for Vietnam in late April 17, ending his official visit to the Czech Republic.

VNA