Vietnam, Czech Republic step up all-around cooperation

During their talks in Hanoi on June 7, President Quang expressed his belief that Milos Zeman’s State visit to Vietnam will contribute to deepening the time-honoured friendship and comprehensive collaboration between the two countries in the new period in a practical manner. 

Quang told his guest that Vietnam always sticks importance to reinforcing and developing relations with traditional friends, including the Czech Republic.

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

Praising Vietnam's achievements in the reform process as well as the country’s increasing role and position in the world arena, President Milos Zeman said his nation always regards Vietnam as its traditional partner and wishes to push forward the bilateral cooperation in a mulitude of fields. 

The two State leaders expressed their delight at the positive development 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 said bilateral economic and trade ties have remained stable with annual two-way trade averaging US$250 million in recent years. 

Both sides concurred 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 fields 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 offering the best possible conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country to live, work, and integrate into the local society.

He said he hopes Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic will continue enhancing the role as a bridge for the closer friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

President Zeman affirmed his nation's readiness to support 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 underlined 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 agreed to intensify the exchange of all-level delegations and consultations on issues of shared concern. 

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

They were unanimous in promoting other other areas such as education-training, science-technology, culture-tourism, health care, environment, employment, national defence and security. 

Concerning 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.

The two sides also discussed 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 time to come.

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