Prague, January 21, 2025 – The Europe Today: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính of Vietnam reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to strengthening ties with traditional partners in Central and Eastern Europe, naming the Czech Republic as one of its top priorities.
During a meeting with Czech President Petr Pavel on January 20 in Prague, PM Chính expressed Vietnam’s enduring gratitude for the Czech Republic’s past support during its struggle for independence and unification, as well as its ongoing socio-economic development.
Chính highlighted the outcomes of his earlier discussions with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, emphasizing the historic elevation of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.
President Pavel welcomed the visit, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties, and praised Vietnam’s standing in the Asia-Pacific region. He described Vietnam as having the closest relationship with the Czech Republic among Asian nations and voiced a strong desire for enhanced collaboration across multiple fields.
Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation
The two leaders agreed on several measures to deepen their strategic partnership, including:
- Enhanced Diplomatic Engagement: Increasing high-level delegation exchanges to build political trust.
- Trade and Investment: Leveraging the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to boost trade volume to $5 billion, while encouraging Czech investments in digital transformation, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and mining.
- Cultural and Educational Collaboration: Expanding cooperation in education, culture, sports, and people-to-people exchanges.
President Pavel applauded Vietnam’s decision to unilaterally exempt Czech citizens from visas starting in 2025 and expressed anticipation for the launch of direct flights between Hanoi and Prague. He also pledged support for the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and efforts to address the European Commission’s yellow card warning on Vietnam’s seafood exports.
Recognizing the Vietnamese Community
The Czech President commended the contributions of the Vietnamese community, the third-largest minority group in the Czech Republic, for their role in fostering socio-economic development and strengthening bilateral ties.
Human Rights and Multilateral Cooperation
Responding to Pavel’s interest in Vietnam’s human rights policies, PM Chính outlined Vietnam’s constitutional and legal framework that prioritizes human rights and social welfare. He noted Vietnam’s achievements in ensuring public welfare, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pavel expressed appreciation for these insights, which he said enhanced the Czech Republic’s understanding of Vietnam’s policies.
The leaders also pledged to continue supporting each other at multilateral forums, including the United Nations and the ASEAN-EU framework, to promote peace, cooperation, and development globally.
Addressing Global Challenges
On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, PM Chính reiterated Vietnam’s consistent stance on resolving disputes through peaceful means and international law. Drawing from its own experiences, Vietnam expressed readiness to contribute to sustainable peace efforts involving all relevant parties.
The visit marked a significant milestone in the Vietnam-Czech Republic relationship, paving the way for further cooperation and shared prosperity.
