Czech President Milos Zeman (Photo: VNA)Radio Prague reported that duringthe Vietnam-Czech business forum in Hanoi during the visit, businesses of bothsides signed seven contracts and memorandums of understanding in digitaltechnology application in government management, pharmaceuticals and fibreoptics.
Addressing the event, PresidentMilos Zeman highlighted the economic growth of Vietnam over the years,affirming the role of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic.
He also mentioned obstaclesfacing bilateral relations such as a lack of direct flights or visa exemptionsfor citizens of both countries.
Meanwhile, Ihned.cz onlinenewspaper said that President Zeman talked about the strengthening of the CzechRepublic-Vietnam partnership, hoping to balance trade to reduce the country’s tradedeficit.
Two-way trade in 2016 reached912.5 million USD in 2016, but the Czech Republic’s exports reached only 94.4million USD. From 2005-2015, the country’s exports to Vietnam rose by fivetimes, while imports from Vietnam increased seven times. The Czech Republic mostlyexported mechanic products to and imported consumer goods from Vietnam, notedthe newspaper.
Meanwhile, another onlinenewspaper, Euro.cz, reported that President Zeman is accompanied by 50 businessrepresentatives.
Apart from the business forum inHanoi on June 6, a conference will be held for businesses of both sides in HoChi Minh City on June 7, it said. It added that in seven signed agreements atthe forum, one is on medicine supply, with the Clinex company set to provide3.5 million USD worth of medicine to Vietnam.
Also, the Optokon company also signedcontracts with Vietnamese partners in telecommunications and fibre optics worth250,000 USD in the first year, it said.-VNA
VNA
