The event was organised by the Vietnam-Slovakia Friendship Association in coordination with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO).

Le Quang Hung, President of the Vietnam-Slovakia Friendship Association, said Vietnam and former Czechoslovakia, now Slovakia, have shared traditional friendly relations for more than 75 years, which have been strengthened and developed over time. Vietnamese people, he said, do not forget the valuable support provided by the Government and people of former Czechoslovakia, now Slovakia, both materially and spiritually, during Vietnam’s past struggle for independence and national development.

At that time, Slovakia provided materials and equipment to Vietnam, supported university and postgraduate training for nearly 4,000 engineers, graduates and doctors, provided vocational training for more than 7,000 skilled workers, and created conditions for nearly 20,000 Vietnamese workers to work at factories and production facilities in Slovakia.

After returning home, this group formed a community of Vietnamese people with close ties to Slovakia. They not only received knowledge, professional skills and positive values from Slovakia but also play a particularly important role in maintaining and fostering ties between both nations’ peoples, thereby strengthening the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Slovakia.

The Vietnam-Slovakia Friendship Association, established in 1997 after splitting from the former Vietnam-Czechoslovakia Friendship Association, represents Vietnamese people who hold affection for Slovakia.

Over nearly 30 years, it has organised many people-to-people diplomacy activities as a contribution to boosting friendship between the two countries. The association works closely with the Slovak Embassy in Vietnam and has met Slovak state and government leaders during visits to Vietnam. These activities have helped build an important social foundation for sustaining connections between the two peoples, making the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Slovakia deeper and more substantive.

To further develop people-to-people exchanges in a stronger, deeper and more substantive manner, Le Quang Hung proposed that the Slovak Government and relevant agencies continue to support such exchanges, including the establishment of a Slovakia-Vietnam Friendship Association.

This would create favourable conditions for stronger coordination and more regular and effective cooperation activities, in line with growing potential and demand for cooperation between the two countries. The Vietnam-Slovakia Friendship Association will continue to play a core role in people-to-people diplomacy as a way of forging traditional friendship, expanding cooperation and enhancing mutual understanding between the two countries people, for the benefit of both sides and for peace, cooperation and development.

Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said the Vietnamese community in Slovakia is an important bridge helping the two countries better understand each other and bolster substantive cooperation. He said the community has integrated well into Slovak society while preserving Vietnamese cultural identity through cultural activities and annual festivals.

In 2023, the Slovak Government officially recognised the Vietnamese community as the country’s 14th ethnic minority, strengthening its legal status and offering conditions for deeper integration into Slovak society. A number of young people of Vietnamese origin have also been recognised for their positive contributions to business and social activities.

Slovakia-Vietnam relations hold huge potential, he said, noting that Vietnam is currently Slovakia’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia and its third-largest partner in Asia. With a strong foundation of friendship built over many years, along with attention from leaders of both countries and joint efforts by agencies, organisations and people, he said bilateral ties are expected to continue developing in a more substantive and effective manner in the time ahead.

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