President Truong Tan Sang held talks with President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman in Prague on May 11 after being warmly welcomed in the nation.

Expressing satisfaction with the past 65 years of all-around bilateral cooperation, the two Presidents agreed to hold a series of events celebrating the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties, including photo exhibitions, film screenings and art troupe exchanges.

They said economic-trade and investment links should be on par with their potential and the effective Inter-Governmental Committee on Vietnam-Czech Republic Economic Cooperation mechanism will continue facilitating trade in infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, public transport, agricultural mechanical engineering, electric and medical equipment, construction materials and food processing, among others.

Both sides concurred to boosting links across education-training, national defence-security, science-technology, culture-sports and tourism, and transport.

The Vietnamese leader asked the Czech Republic to continue its supply of official development assistance to Vietnam ’s projects in the environment, forestation, waste treatment, community health care, insurance system reform and hospital construction.

He also thanked the host leaders and authorities for their support to Vietnamese nationals living in the country, expressing his belief that the Vietnamese community would continue serving as a bridge between the two nations.

President Zeman emphatically stated that as an active member of the European Union (EU), the nation backs the strengthening of the relationship between Vietnam and the EU.

He confirmed that the Czech Republic has ratified the EU-Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA) and pledged to hasten the EU for early approval.

The leader also vowed to push for the expeditious signing of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement, while simultaneously recognising Vietnam as a market economy.

Discussing international and regional issues of shared concern, including the East Sea developments, both host and guest agreed that disputes should be settled by peaceful means in line with international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) for peace, stability, maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the region.

During a press briefing following the talks, both leaders highlighted key pillars in bilateral ties that will be the focus looking forward.

President meets with Czech parliamentary leaders

President Truong Tan Sang met with the President of the Czech Senate Milan Stech and President of the Chamber of Deputies Jan Hamacek in Prague on May 11, during which the two sides agreed to step up ties between the two countries’ legislative bodies.

The two sides extolled the two nations’ sound traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation, saying the development of each country as well as mutually supplementary strengths and potentials are the firm foundation for Vietnam and the Czech Republic to further develop their ties in the coming time.

The Czech parliamentary leaders highlighted the importance of cultural exchanges and pledged to support the 60,000-strong Vietnamese community in the society.

They also backed the signing of the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement (EVFTA), which is expected to open up new prospects to propel the bilateral economic links forward.