At the invitation of Prime Minister Petr Fiala of the Czech Republic, Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Vo Thi Anh Xuan will undertake an official visit to the Czech Republic in November 2024.

During the visit, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan is scheduled to meet with senior leaders of the Czech Republic to discuss measures to promote comprehensive cooperation in the fields of politics-diplomacy, economy-trade-investment, science-technology, innovation, education-training, culture-sports-tourism, sustainable development, and people-to-people exchanges. These discussions aim to deepen the existing cooperation foundations, explore new potential areas for collaboration, and open up new opportunities for partnership between Vietnam and the Czech Republic.

In the recently announced security and economic strategies of the Czech government, Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific region play an essential role and are targeted as priorities for diplomatic relations and the promotion of trade and investment cooperation by the Czech Republic. This strategy has been implemented through Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s visit to four Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, in April 2023.

According to Czech statistics, the two-way trade volume between Vietnam and the Czech Republic reached USD 2.9 billion in 2023, marking a 19% increase from the same period in 2022. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume is projected to continue strong growth, potentially reaching USD 3.8 billion, a 28% increase compared to 2023.

The Czech Republic is regarded as the heart of Europe, not only for its strategic location but also for its influence within the European Union. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s favorable geographical position serves as a gateway for global trade routes and air transportation in ASEAN. With 16 effective free trade agreements and several others under negotiation, Vietnam is well-prepared to act as a bridge, strengthening the Czech Republic’s connections with the Asia-Pacific region.

To capitalize on the benefits of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and to enhance cooperation in areas with untapped potential, such as economy-trade, education-training, science-technology, culture-sports-tourism, and labor, both sides need to prioritize initiating negotiations to sign new agreements in education and labor. There is also a need to open a direct air route between Hanoi and Prague and to expand cooperation into other promising fields like green transition, digital transformation, renewable energy, and mining.

The strong traditional friendship and the support of high-level leaders form a solid foundation for strengthening political trust between the two countries, deepening and enhancing the Vietnam-Czech Republic relationship in a substantive and effective manner and benefiting the peoples of both nations.

Source: https://vov.vn