High expectations of the PM’s working trip to Europe

Chinh and his spouse will lead a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on a working trip to Poland and the Czech Republic, and attend the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, along with engaging in bilateral activities in Switzerland from January 16 to 22.

The trip aims to strengthen Vietnam’s relations with Poland and the Czech Republic that are traditional friends of Vietnam, on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties, focusing on potential areas of cooperation in economics, trade, investment, defense, high technology, renewable energy, digital transformation, green transition, transport connectivity. It also aims to enhance Vietnam’s cooperation with Switzerland, particularly in finance, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

According to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang, the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Poland, the Czech Republic, and the multifaceted cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Switzerland have seen positive developments over the years.

Political trust between Vietnam and these countries has been increasingly reinforced through exchange activities at various levels. Both Poland and the Czech Republic have actively supported Vietnam in developing comprehensive partnerships and cooperation with the European Union (EU), particularly during the negotiation, signing, and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). The Czech Republic was among the first EU member states to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

Poland and the Czech Republic rank among Vietnam’s leading trade partners in Central and Eastern Europe. Cooperation in fields such as defense-security, education and training, science and technology, culture, sports and tourism, and labour has progressed positively. People-to-people exchanges have been maintained and strengthened. In 2024, Vietnam welcomed approximately 50,000 Polish and 25,000 Czech tourists.

The Vietnamese communities in Poland and the Czech Republic, amounting to around 25,000 and 100,000 respectively, have made positive contributions to the host countries and bilateral relations, earning high appreciation from local governments. Notably, the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic was officially recognized as the 14th ethnic minority group in 2013, making it the third-largest minority group in the country, accounting for 1% of the population.

Meanwhile, Vietnam and Switzerland have consistently maintained high-level exchanges and close cooperation at multilateral forums and international organizations such as the United Nations and the ASEAN-Switzerland Sectoral Dialogue Partnership. Both countries are actively negotiating a Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Economically, Switzerland is an important trade partner for Vietnam in Europe and ranks as the sixth largest European investor in Vietnam, with a total registered capital of approximately US$2.1 billion. Cooperation in areas such as education - training, science - technology, innovation, sustainable development, and culture and tourism holds great potential for growth.

The relationship between the two countries has been further strengthened through the Vietnamese community in Switzerland, numbering about 10,000 individuals. This community actively integrates into Swiss society, contributes positively to the host country, and maintains strong ties to their homeland.

Meanwhile, participating in the WEF Davos 2025 meeting is to convey Vietnam’s aspirations for development, leverage global trends such as artificial intelligence (AI), the digital economy, and green transformation, and expand partnerships with leading global corporations.

Hang said in Davos, the PM will convey key messages about Vietnam’s determination, aspirations, and vision toward strategic development goals over the next 20 years. Through discussions to be attended by more than 3,000 leaders from countries, international organizations, and leading global corporations, Vietnam aims to grasp current development trends that are shaping the smart era. This will enable the formulation of mechanisms, policies, and measures to seize opportunities while minimizing the negative impact of emerging trends.

The PM will also preside over numerous discussions on practical topics tied to Vietnam’s current development requirements, particularly the implementation of a Politburo resolution on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation. Accordingly, his working trip will create significant opportunities for cooperation between Vietnam and other countries, as well as with leading global corporations, in critical areas such as AI, investment in innovation, high-tech development, AI applications in smart manufacturing, the development of an international financial hub in Ho Chi Minh City, and the application of AI and new technologies in health care and pharmaceuticals.

The PM’s working trip, besides promoting close cooperation with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland, demonstrates Vietnam’s active and responsible role in regional and global issues. It helps reinforce comprehensive partnerships between Vietnam and the EU, especially with the EVFTA and the EVIPA creating favourable trade conditions.

For the Vietnamese economy, it will help attract international resources, including investment, technology, and scientific cooperation, to serve sustainable development goals. It will open new opportunities in priority areas such as finance, AI, health care, renewable energy, and smart manufacturing. It will also affirm Vietnam’s position as an attractive destination for global businesses.

“The PM’s participation in the WEF Davos meeting marks the beginning of an exceptionally dynamic year for Vietnam in multilateral diplomacy. Through this meeting, we are confident that Vietnam will continue to affirm its role as a reliable partner and an active, responsible, and highly potential member of the international community in the smart era. Vietnam is poised to contribute to a prosperous and sustainable future for humanity,” said the Deputy Foreign Minister.