Prime Minister Le Minh Hung hosted a reception for Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman at the Government Headquarters in Hanoi on May 18 during the minister’s official visit to Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Government leader welcomed Minister Gordan Grlić Radman and a delegation of leading Croatian businesses accompanying him on the visit, highlighting the trip as important for promoting the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Croatia in an increasingly substantive and effective manner.

Congratulating Croatia on its socio-economic achievements, particularly its successful accession to the Eurozone and the Schengen Area in 2023, PM Hung also spoke highly of Croatia’s growing role and position within the European Union and the Central and Eastern European region. He affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to strengthening relations with traditional friends in Europe, including Croatia.

The host leader proposed that the two sides intensify exchanges at all levels, especially high-level visits, and expand cooperation among ministries, sectors, localities and businesses, thereby adding fresh impetus to bilateral cooperation.

Based on the good relations and considerable cooperation potential between the two countries, PM Hung suggested that both sides make substantive progress in economic, trade and investment cooperation, with the goal of doubling bilateral trade turnover from the current US$161 million.

He also proposed that the two sides consider establishing a joint committee on economic cooperation to create a framework for long-term, stable and effective cooperation, while encouraging Croatian businesses to invest in areas where Croatia has strengths and Vietnam has demand, including seaports, logistics, renewable energy, tourism, science and technology, digital transformation, innovation and climate change response.

The Government chief asked Croatia to continue supporting Vietnam within the EU and encourage the remaining EU member states to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), thereby creating breakthroughs in trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and the EU in general and between Vietnam and Croatia in particular.

He also urged Croatia to support the European Commission’s early removal of the “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood exports, in line with Vietnam’s serious and determined efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

In response, Minister Gordan Grlić Radman thanked PM Le Minh Hung for the reception and said he was pleased and honored to make his first official visit to Vietnam as Croatia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs during the 136th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh, whom he described as representing the dignity and conscience of humanity.

Minister Gordan Grlić Radman reaffirmed that Croatia attaches importance to its time-honoured friendship with Vietnam and regards Vietnam as one of its most important partners in Southeast Asia as playing a very important role in maintaining and strengthening peace, security and cooperation in the region. 

He expressed hope that the two countries would further bolster practical and effective cooperation, especially in the areas of economics, trade, investment, defense and security, science and technology, education and training, energy, seaports, tourism, logistics and business links.

 The Croatian Minister affirmed that Croatia stands ready to coordinate closely with Vietnam to effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms, intensify delegation exchanges, promote political consultations, support business links and expand cooperation in areas of shared interest. 

He also said Croatia greatly values Vietnam’s increasingly important role in the Asia-Pacific region, ASEAN and global supply chains, affirming that Croatia will continue supporting stronger Vietnam-EU relations, including the effective implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), encouraging the remaining EU member states to soon ratify EVIPA and expanding cooperation in new areas in line with the priorities of the Vietnam-EU Strategic Partnership.

Minister Gordan Grlić Radman also expressed hope that the two sides will continue coordinating closely at multilateral forums, thereby contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Croatia, Vietnam explore potential for labour cooperation

VOV.VN - Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang held a recent working session with State Secretary of the Croatian Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy Ivan Vidis to discuss the potential of labour cooperation between the two countries as part of her working visit to the European nation.