President Tran Dai Quang (R) and his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman (Source: VNA) At the talks, held following the welcome ceremony for the Czech President, PresidentQuang expressed his belief that Milos Zeman’s State visit to Vietnam willcontribute to deepening the time-honoured friendship and multi-facetedcollaboration between the two countries in the new period in a pragmaticmanner.
“Vietnamalways attaches importance to consolidating and developing relations withtraditional friends, including the Czech Republic,” he affirmed.
The leaders briefed each other on situationsin the respective countries and discussed concretemeasures to promote the bilateral ties. They also exchanged views oninternational and regional issues of mutual concern.
Hailing achievements Vietnamese people have recorded in the reform process aswell as the country’s increasing role and position in the world arena,President MilosZeman said the Czech Republic always regards Vietnam as its traditional partnerand wishes to advance the bilateral affiliation across fields.
Hostand guest noted with pleasure active developments of the Vietnam-Czech Republicrelations over the past time, particularly in politics and diplomacy, as wellas their effective collaboration at international arena.
Theyheld that bilateral economic and trade ties have remained stable with annual two-waytrade averaging 250 million USD in recent years.
Thetwo leaders agreed to continue improving the effectiveness of the jointcommission on economic cooperation, while strengthening trade and investmentpromotion, encouraging and backing the business community of both sides tofoster their partnership and study each other’s market, especially in areas ofthe Czech Republic’s strength and Vietnam’s demand such as infrastructure, foodprocessing, pharmaceuticals, urban planning, public transportation,environmental protection and water resources management.
PresidentQuang thanked the State and people of the Czech Republic for creatingfavourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country to live, work,and integrate into the local society.
TheState leader expressed belief that the Vietnamese community in the CzechRepublic will continue promoting the role as a bridge for the friendship andcooperation between the two countries.
Thetwo Presidents showed their delight at the close and effective coordinationbetween the two countries at international forums.
PresidentZeman affirmed that the Czech Republic supports the enhancement of theVietnam-EU relations as well as the signing and approval of the Vietnam-EU freetrade agreement, and the EU’s soon recognition of Vietnam’s full market economystatus.
Regardingthe East Sea issue, the two leaders stressed the need to settle all disputesthrough peaceful measures, including diplomatic and legal processes inconformity with international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law ofthe Sea 1982 (UNCLOS).
Meetingwith the press following their talks, President Quang said both sides consentedto increase the exchange of all-level delegations and consultations on issuesof shared concern.
ThePresidents were unanimous on the need for the two countries to improve theefficiency of affiliations in trade and investment and join hands with eachother in preparing for the sixth meeting of the Vietnam-Czech Joint Commission onEconomic Cooperation scheduled for 2018 in Hanoi.
Theywelcomed and pledged to facilitate the Czech investment in Vietnam in suchareas as energy, environment, support industry, infrastructure, manufacturing,medical equipment and food processing.
Hostand guest also consented to beef up the partnership in other realms like education-training,science-technology, culture-tourism, health care, environment, employment,national defence and security.
Regardingregional and international issues, President Quang said that the two leadershighlighted the significance of the maintenance of security and peace as wellas the promotion of cooperation and development in the world.
PresidentZeman said that the business community of his country is interested in theVietnamese market. He stated that his entourage included representatives of 68enterprises in various sectors, who show their hope to affiliate withVietnamese peers through specific agreements.
Healso revealed that the two leaders discussed and agreed on the opening of adirect air route connecting Prague and Ho Chi Minh City, and the short-termvisa exemption for Czech tourists to Vietnam. The Czech Republic will open aConsulate General in Ho Chi Minh City in the coming time.
Healso said that he believes this will contribute to boosting the number of Czechtourists to Vietnam in the future.
Aftertheir talks, the Presidents witnessed the signing of cooperation documentsbetween the two countries, including an agreement on the transfer of sentencedpersons and another on combating crimes.
Vietnamand the Czech Republic set up diplomatic ties on February 2, 1950.
With35 projects worth 91.3 million USD, focusing on real estate, beer, electronicequipment and construction materials, the Czech Republic ranks 42nd outof 101 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.
Vietnamwas among 12 priority markets included in the Czech national export strategyduring 2012-2020, which was announced in 2012.
TheCzech Republic has been the first Eastern European nation to provide officialdevelopment assistance (ODA) for Vietnam with about 18 million USD.
Morethan 60,000 Vietnamese are living in the Czech Republic. On July 3, 2013, theCzech Government appointed a Czech representative of Vietnamese origin to theCouncil of Ethnic Minorities, thus recognising the Czech Vietnamese communityas an ethnic minority group in the country. -VNA
VNA
