Vietnam and the Czech Republic should maintain delegation exchanges at all levels and increase cooperation between their ministries, sectors, localities and businesses to carry out the signed agreements, said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (R) receives Czech President Milos Zeman on June 7

At a reception for Czech President Milos Zeman in Hanoi on June 7, the Party leader described the President’s visit as important to the countries’ traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation.

He briefed his guest about the recent situation of Vietnam and thanked the Czech people for their precious and effective support to the country in the fight for national liberation in the past and national development efforts at present, including in manpower training.

He highly valued the achievements the Czech Republic has obtained during the integration and development process.

General Secretary Trong applauded the outcomes of the talks between the Czech President and his Vietnamese counterpart Tran Dai Quang, stressing that the two countries’ relations are developing soundly.

Acknowledging the Czech Government’s favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country, he said those will help them better serve as a bridge linking the two nations.

At the meeting, President Zeman informed the host about his country’s recent situation and the outcomes of his talks and meetings with Vietnamese leaders.

He emphasised that the Czech Republic attaches importance to the reinforcement and development of the time-tested friendship and cooperation with Vietnam. 

It will promote the realisation of the two countries’ cooperation agreements in such fields as economy, trade, culture, education, science and sports, thereby making substantive changes in bilateral ties.

The visiting President also wished the Vietnamese people even greater attainments in reforms so as to build an affluent and strong Vietnam.

Vietnam, Czech Republic agree to foster ties across fields

President Tran Dai Quang and his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman agreed to forge cooperation between Vietnam and the Czech Republic in various areas during their talks in Hanoi on June 7.

President Tran Dai Quang (R) and his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman

At the talks, held following the welcome ceremony for the Czech President, President Quang expressed his belief that Milos Zeman’s State visit to Vietnam will contribute to deepening the time-honoured friendship and multi-faceted collaboration between the two countries in the new period in a pragmatic manner. 

“Vietnam always attaches importance to consolidating and developing relations with traditional friends, including the Czech Republic,” he affirmed. 

The leaders briefed each other on situations in the respective countries and discussed concrete measures to promote the bilateral ties. They also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern.

Hailing achievements Vietnamese people have recorded in the reform process as well as the country’s increasing role and position in the world arena, President Milos Zeman said the Czech Republic always regards Vietnam as its traditional partner and wishes to advance the bilateral affiliation across fields. 

Host and guest noted with pleasure active developments of the Vietnam-Czech Republic relations over the past time, particularly in politics and diplomacy, as well as their effective collaboration at international arena. 

They held that bilateral economic and trade ties have remained stable with annual two-way trade averaging 250 million USD in recent years. 

The two leaders agreed to continue improving the effectiveness of the joint commission on economic cooperation, while strengthening trade and investment promotion, encouraging and backing the business community of both sides to foster their partnership and study each other’s market, especially in areas of the Czech Republic’s strength and Vietnam’s demand such as infrastructure, food processing, pharmaceuticals, urban planning, public transportation, environmental protection and water resources management. 

President Quang thanked the State and people of the Czech Republic for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country to live, work, and integrate into the local society.

The State leader expressed belief that the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic will continue promoting the role as a bridge for the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The two Presidents showed their delight at the close and effective coordination between the two countries at international forums.

President Zeman affirmed that the Czech Republic supports the enhancement of the Vietnam-EU relations as well as the signing and approval of the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement, and the EU’s soon recognition of Vietnam’s full market economy status.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two leaders stressed the need to settle all disputes through peaceful measures, including diplomatic and legal processes in conformity with international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS).

Meeting with the press following their talks, President Quang said both sides consented to increase the exchange of all-level delegations and consultations on issues of shared concern. 

The Presidents were unanimous on the need for the two countries to improve the efficiency of affiliations in trade and investment and join hands with each other in preparing for the sixth meeting of the Vietnam-Czech Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation scheduled for 2018 in Hanoi. 

They welcomed and pledged to facilitate the Czech investment in Vietnam in such areas as energy, environment, support industry, infrastructure, manufacturing, medical equipment and food processing. 

Host and guest also consented to beef up the partnership in other realms like education-training, science-technology, culture-tourism, health care, environment, employment, national defence and security. 

Regarding regional and international issues, President Quang said that the two leaders highlighted the significance of the maintenance of security and peace as well as the promotion of cooperation and development in the world.

President Zeman said that the business community of his country is interested in the Vietnamese market. He stated that his entourage included representatives of 68 enterprises in various sectors, who show their hope to affiliate with Vietnamese peers through specific agreements.

He also revealed that the two leaders discussed and agreed on the opening of a direct air route connecting Prague and Ho Chi Minh City, and the short-term visa exemption for Czech tourists to Vietnam. The Czech Republic will open a Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City in the coming time.

He also said that he believes this will contribute to boosting the number of Czech tourists to Vietnam in the future.

After their talks, the Presidents witnessed the signing of cooperation documents between the two countries, including an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons and another on combating crimes.  

Vietnam and the Czech Republic set up diplomatic ties on February 2, 1950. 

With 35 projects worth 91.3 million USD, focusing on real estate, beer, electronic equipment and construction materials, the Czech Republic ranks 42nd out of 101 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. 

Vietnam was among 12 priority markets included in the Czech national export strategy during 2012-2020, which was announced in 2012. 

The Czech Republic has been the first Eastern European nation to provide official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam with about 18 million USD. 

More than 60,000 Vietnamese are living in the Czech Republic. On July 3, 2013, the Czech Government appointed a Czech representative of Vietnamese origin to the Council of Ethnic Minorities, thus recognising the Czech Vietnamese community as an ethnic minority group in the country. 

NA Chairwoman: Vietnam values ties with Czech Republic

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) and President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman 

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has assured President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman that Vietnam always values the development of ties with traditional friends in the Central and Eastern Europe, with the Czech Republic being one of the priority partners. 

During a meeting in Hanoi on June 7, Ngan wished that the two countries will continue active cooperation and mutual support at regional and global forums, particularly at the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the ASEAN-EU. 

She also hoped that the recent signing of numerous memoranda of understanding on cooperation will promote bilateral trade and investment. 

Vietnam is ready to offer all possible support to Czech businesses to do long-term business in the country, particularly in fields of Vietnam’s demand, she stated, adding that the regular exchange of delegations from the two legislatures will make important contributions to developing bilateral ties. 

Zeman, for his part, informed the host that during talks with President Tran Dai Quang, both sides expressed wish to open direct flights linking the two nations and agreed to assign ministries and agencies concerned to launch negotiations on the issue. 

He said if short-term tourist visa waiving for Czech citizens is realised, tourist arrivals to Vietnam will increase, opening a new chapter in investment for the two countries’ businesses.

The guest affirmed that the Czech Republic will continue supporting the comprehensive cooperation partnership between Vietnam and the European Union and hasten the EU’s signing and adoption of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. 

Host and guest expressed delight that a treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons and an agreement on combating crime have been signed during the visit. 

On the East Sea issue, they underscored the necessity of settling disputes by peaceful means, including diplomatic and legal processes, in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The same day, President Tran Dai Quang hosted a banquet in honour of the Czech guest.

Deputy PM hails Czech President’s visit

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue lauded the ongoing Vietnam visit by President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman as a contributor to fostering the bilateral friendship and economic, trade and investment ties during a meeting with the President in Hanoi on June 7. 

Hue said two-way trade between the two nations neared 250 million USD in 2016. By the end of last year, Czech firms had 36 valid projects worth more than 100 million USD in Vietnam while the Southeast Asian nation poured over 5 million USD into four projects in the Czech Republic.

Vietnam wants the European country to invest in fields of its strength such as energy, mining, infrastructure, transport means, mechanical engineering, environment, national defence, medical equipment and vocational training, Hue said. 

According to him, Vietnam is accelerating business climate improvement and economic restructuring to create favourable conditions for domestic and foreign enterprises, including those from the Czech Republic. 

President Milos Zeman, for his part, said his country always attaches importance to its traditional friendship with Vietnam.

Sharing view with the Vietnamese official, he said the two sides could partner in fields of strength and demand, opening a gateway for the two nations to access ASEAN and other markets worldwide. 

He wished that Vietnam would remove visa issuance procedures for Czech citizens soon, making it easier for them to travel to the country.

VNA