Czech media focuses on President Zeman’s visit to Vietnam

Radio Prague reported that during the Vietnam-Czech business forum in Hanoi during the visit, businesses of both sides signed seven contracts and memorandums of understanding in digital technology application in government management, pharmaceuticals and fibre optics.

Addressing the event, President Milos Zeman highlighted the economic growth of Vietnam over the years, affirming the role of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic.

He also mentioned obstacles facing bilateral relations such as a lack of direct flights or visa exemptions for citizens of both countries.

Meanwhile, Ihned.cz online newspaper said that President Zeman talked about the strengthening of the Czech Republic-Vietnam partnership, hoping to balance trade to reduce the country’s trade deficit.

Two-way trade in 2016 reached US$912.5 million in 2016, but the Czech Republic’s exports reached only US$94.4 million. From 2005-2015, the country’s exports to Vietnam rose by five times, while imports from Vietnam increased seven times. The Czech Republic mostly exported mechanic products to and imported consumer goods from Vietnam, noted the newspaper.

Meanwhile, another online newspaper, Euro.cz, reported that President Zeman is accompanied by 50 business representatives.

Apart from the business forum in Hanoi on June 6, a conference will be held for businesses of both sides in Ho Chi Minh City on June 7, it said. It added that in seven signed agreements at the forum, one is on medicine supply, with the Clinex company set to provide US$3.5 million worth of medicine to Vietnam.

Also, the Optokon company also signed contracts with Vietnamese partners in telecommunications and fibre optics worth US$250,000 in the first year, it said.