Slovakia regards Vietnam as a key partner in Asia-Pacific
VOV.VN - Vietnam is considered one of Slovakia’s leading partners in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in Southeast Asia, said First Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Marek Estok during a meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Truong Giang in Bratislava on February 27.
Deputy Minister Estok emphasized Slovakia's recognition of Vietnam’s international role and praised the strong bilateral coordination in supporting each other’s candidacies for international organizations. He also highlighted Slovakia's intention to further enhance economic ties by increasing the number of economic attachés at its embassy in Vietnam.
Estok applauded the Vietnamese community in Slovakia, which has recently been officially recognized as the country’s 14th ethnic minority group, for their great contributions to Slovakia’s socio-economic development. He expressed Slovakia’s goal of deepening bilateral relations and ultimately upgrading them to a strategic partnership.
Ambassador Giang expressed his gratitude for Slovakia’s ongoing support and reaffirmed Vietnam's commitment to stepping up cooperation with Central and Eastern European nations, including Slovakia. He stated that 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and called for the expansion of high-level exchanges and practical initiatives in areas such as trade, education, science, technology, and cultural exchange.
The ambassador also thanked the Slovak government for recognizing the Vietnamese community and called for sustained efforts to support their integration and contributions to Slovak society. He requested that Slovakia expedite work permit renewals for Vietnamese workers and streamline visa procedures for new workers.
In response, Deputy Minister Estok acknowledged these concerns, noting that Slovakia had issued over 10,000 residence permits to Vietnamese nationals in 2024, making them the third-largest foreign community in the country, after Ukrainians and Serbians. He assured that he would instruct relevant authorities to coordinate with the Vietnamese Embassy on consular matters.
Vietnam, Slovakia push for stronger economic cooperation
VOV.VN - As of mid-2022, Slovak investment ranked 45th out of 135 countries and territories in Vietnam, with 12 projects totally capitalized at US$140.8 million.
