Czech Republic considers Vietnam a leading partner in Southeast Asia
VOV.VN - The Czech Republic considers Vietnam a leading partner and important market in Southeast Asia, Jozef Sikela, Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, told Duong Hoai Nam, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic at a recent meeting.
Meeting with the Vietnamese Ambassador in Prague on August 22, Sikela expressed joy at the continuous growth in trade turnover between the two countries in recent years.
He said he hopes that the Vietnamese Government will continue to support Czech businesses and investors operating in Vietnam, especially those investing in the Skoda - Thanh Cong automobile manufacturing joint venture project and the Mong Duong Thermal Power Plant II project in Quang Ninh province.
The success of these two projects will further strengthen the confidence of Czech businesses to expand investment in Vietnam, while helping to create thousands of new jobs for Vietnamese people, said the minister.
Sikela recalled his visit to Vietnam in February 2023 and his meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) in early February 2024. He said the two sides will coordinate well to organize the eighth meeting of the Vietnam – Czech Republic Intergovernmental Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation scheduled to be held at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, in an effort to raise bilateral relations to new heights.
Onthis occasion, the minister extended his condolences to the Vietnamese Party, State and people over the recent passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
Nam for his part said both Vietnam and the Czech Republic have great potential for stronger cooperation, suggesting the two sides prioritize implementing and effectively taking advantage of the European Union – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to further expand bilateral cooperation, especially in areas where the two sides has strengths and needs.
He also suggested that the Czech Republic include Vietnam in its the Qualified Worker Program to further increase labour cooperation between the two countries.
The ambassador said Vietnam will coordinate closely with the Czech Republic to organize activities in the lead up to 75 years of their diplomacy in 2025.
Nam expressed his hope that as an EC Commissioner, Sikela will continue to support Vietnam as well as Vietnam - EU relations, while promoting the European Commission to remove the “yellow card” against Vietnamese seafood exports, and soon recognize Vietnam’s market economy status.
He expected that Sikela will encourage the remaining EU member states to ratify the EU – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to further deepen economic and trade relations between Vietnam and the EU in general and between Vietnam and the Czech Republic in particular.
