Vietnam, Czech Republic augment parliamentary cooperation

VOV.VN - Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Duc Hai and Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic Jan Bartosek have consented to maintain exchange visits and experience sharing between the two legislatures during the talks in Hanoi on May 23.

During the talks, Hai affirmed Vietnam’s great importance to the friendship and all-around cooperation with traditional friends, with the Czech Republic being a priority partner.

Bartosek stated the Czech Republic treasures the time-tested friendship between the two countries, views Vietnam as the most important partner in Southeast Asia, and desires to boost bilateral cooperation across multiple fields.

The two sides rejoiced over the progress in their countries’ relations over the past years as seen in cooperation and delegation exchanges in a multitude of fields and at levels, especially the visit to Vietnam by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala from April 20 to 22, 2023, helping strengthen the mutual trust and deepening understanding between both nations ’ leaders and people.

They hailed the results of cooperation in such fields as economy - trade, science, education - training, and culture.
Vice Chairman Hai called on both countries to maximise advantages created by the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and actively carry out the outcomes of the Inter-governmental Committee’s meeting held in the Prague in late June 2022 to enhance bilateral trade and investment.

He asked Bartosek and other members of the Chamber of Deputies to continue supporting the Vietnam - EU relations in many fields, especially hastening other EU members’ ratification of the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and the European Commission’s early removal of the “yellow card” warning against IUU fishing for Vietnam.

For his part, Vice Chairman Bartosek emphasized that Vietnam is a potential economic partner, and more and more Czech enterprises are planning to expand operations in the Southeast Asian nation.

During the visit, his delegation will work with the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to discuss agricultural cooperation, he said, while asking Vietnamese authorities create favourable conditions for agricultural products of the Czech Republic, including pork, to access the Vietnamese market.

At the talks, Hai greatly appreciated the Czech Republic’s enormous and effective assistance for Vietnam in education and training, while suggesting the two countries boost ties in this regard.

He also thanked the Czech State for offering conditions for the Vietnamese community to become an ethnic minority group and settle down in the country.

Bartosek applauded the role of the Vietnamese community, which was recognized as an ethnic minority group by the Czech Government in 2013 and has actively contributed to local socio-economic development.

The Czech official also suggested the two sides set up cultural centres in each other’s countries soon, open direct air routes, and provide favourable visa conditions to boost investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

Both sides also shared views on regional and international issues of shared concern. They affirmed that Vietnam and the Czech Republic will maintain close coordination and mutual support at international forums and organisations, including the United Nations and the Asia - Europe Meeting (ASEM), and in promoting ASEAN’s relations with the Czech Republic and the EU.

Regarding the East Sea issue, they reaffirmed the support for the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Concerning parliamentary cooperation, they concurred to maintain mutual visits between parliamentary leaders, committees, and agencies; increase sharing experience in and information about legislative activities; and coordinate to monitor the implementation of cooperation agreements and key projects between the two countries.

Hai and Bartosek highly valued the dynamism of the two parliamentary friendship groups, asking them to augment efforts to contribute more to bilateral cooperation.

They also pledged to keep coordination at multilateral forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia - Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) meetings. The two legislative bodies will also intensify viewpoint exchange and mutual support in issues of mutual concern.

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