Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Ho Minh Tuan (L) speaks at a banquet marking the 74th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day

Tuan said bilateral relations have been growing in various areas over the past seven decades. A large number of Vietnamese citizens are living and working in the Czech Republic. About 200,000 Vietnamese people could speak Czech language.

In the recent five years, visits by the two countries’ leaders have been maintained, notably those made by President Truong Tan Sang in 2015, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in 2017 and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in April 2019. Czech President Milos Zeman also visited Vietnam in 2017, not to mention the regular exchange of visits at ministerial and provincial officials.

However, economic and trade ties have not met expectations, with two-way trade nearing 1.2 billion USD last year, nearly 1 billion USD of which was Vietnam’s exports to the country. The European country invested in about 35 projects worth 100 million USD in Vietnam.

As the two countries are preparing for the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties, they are determined to lift economic, trade, tourism, national defence-education ties to a greater height.

On the political front, both sides will continue facilitating visits by leaders and hope for a visit by the Czech Prime Minister to Vietnam this year. Ambassador Tuan said if realized, the visit is expected to bolster bilateral ties in various areas, particularly in economy.

Leaders of the parliament of the Czech Republic and several ministers also plan to visit Vietnam this year.

On Vietnam’s part, the ministers of culture, transport, national defence, public security and local leaders will also pay visits to the European country.

Tuan informed that the seventh meeting of the Vietnam – Czech Republic Inter-Governmental Economic Commission will be held in Prague this year, during which they will decide on specific projects to boost economic links. The two sides will also hold forums and seminars to call for investment and promote trade and tourism ties.

In culture, the Vietnamese side will organise the Vietnam Culture Week and send art troupes to perform in localities in the Czech Republic.

Also this year, Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways is scheduled to launch a direct air route linking Hanoi and Prague at the end of the first quarter or in the beginning of the second quarter, contributing to stepping up collaboration in trade, investment and tourism.

Leaders of the Czech Republic localities pledged to offer funding to Vietnamese residents living there and work with the Vietnamese embassy to hold Vietnam Day events to introduce Vietnamese culture to international friends./.VNA