Prague, January 20, 2025 – The Europe Today: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, accompanied by his spouse, joined the Vietnamese community in Prague on Sunday evening for the Homeland Spring programme, marking the celebration of Tết (Lunar New Year), the most significant traditional festival for the Vietnamese people.
At the event, Hoàng Đình Thắng, Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe, praised the resilience of the Vietnamese community in Europe, emphasizing their important role in fostering closer ties between Vietnam and Europe. Trần Văn Đăng, Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic, highlighted the community’s continued efforts to preserve their cultural identity, with support from the Vietnamese State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese and the Vietnamese Embassy.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Dương Hoài Nam, commended the community’s contributions to strengthening the relationship between Vietnam and the Czech Republic.
Prime Minister Chính delivered a heartfelt address, praising the community in the Czech Republic for their perseverance and integration into local society. He described them as a crucial link in enhancing the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Czech Republic.
The Prime Minister updated the community on Vietnam’s domestic progress, detailing the country’s successful achievement of all 15 socio-economic development targets for 2024, with 12 surpassing projections. Vietnam’s GDP growth rate reached 7.09%, making it one of the 35 largest economies globally, while macroeconomic stability, inflation control, and balanced economic development were maintained.
PM Chính reaffirmed Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence and self-reliance, highlighting the establishment of diplomatic relations with 194 nations and comprehensive partnerships with 32 countries, including the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. He also underscored the importance of overseas Vietnamese, describing them as an indispensable resource contributing to the nation’s success.
Looking ahead to 2025, a year marked by significant national events, the Prime Minister urged the overseas Vietnamese community to continue supporting Vietnam’s development goals for 2030 and 2045. He announced that Prague would host the first great national solidarity festival abroad, honoring the contributions of the Vietnamese community.
PM Chính encouraged the community to stay united, promote mutual support, and adhere to local laws, expressing confidence in their continued success and cultural preservation in the Czech Republic.
The evening concluded with traditional Vietnamese music performances and an early Tết celebration, as attendees enjoyed songs, laughter, and festive delicacies that evoked the spirit of home.
Earlier in the day, PM Chính and his delegation visited the Prague National Museum, one of the Czech Republic’s most important cultural and historical landmarks. He praised the museum’s role in preserving Czech culture and history, while expressing hope for continued collaboration between Việt Nam and the Czech Republic for mutual growth and global stability.
The Prime Minister also paid a visit to the family of Hoàng Đình Thắng, a prominent overseas Vietnamese leader, urging him to continue supporting the community, particularly youth and new immigrants, in areas such as legal knowledge, business, and cultural integration. He recognized Thắng’s role in furthering ties between the two countries and emphasized his vital contributions to the solidarity of the Vietnamese diaspora.
As Tết approaches, Prime Minister Chính wished the Vietnamese community abroad a new year filled with health, happiness, success, and prosperity, as Vietnam embarks on a new era of growth and national pride.
