Vietnam is one of the Czech Republic's leading important partners in Southeast Asia.

Senate Chairman Milos Vystrcil affirmed that the Czech-Vietnam Strategic Partnership will open up many new cooperation opportunities, especially in economic, security-defense, and education-training cooperation.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with President of the Czech Senate Milos Vystrcil. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

According to the special correspondent of Vietnam News Agency, within the framework of his official visit to the Czech Republic, on the afternoon of January 20 (local time) in the capital Prague, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with President of the Czech Senate Milos Vystrcil.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh thanked the President of the Senate Milos Vystrcil and senior leaders of the Czech Republic for the warm and sincere welcome given to the Vietnamese Government delegation; affirmed that in implementing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of relations, Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to strengthen relations with traditional friends in Central and Eastern Europe, of which the Czech Republic is a top priority partner.

Sharing that there are only common points and no differences between Vietnam and the Czech Republic, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that this is the foundation for Vietnam and the Czech Republic to decide to upgrade their relationship to a Strategic Partnership, demonstrating the political determination of the leaders and meeting the expectations of the people of the two countries on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

The Prime Minister said that the two sides will organize many rich commemorative activities, appropriate to the bilateral relationship, including cultural, artistic, sports and people-to-people exchanges.

Senate President Milos Vystrcil welcomed the official visit to the Czech Republic of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Recalling his memories and affection for the country and people of Vietnam, Senate President Milos Vystrcil highly appreciated the socio-economic achievements that Vietnam has achieved in recent times as well as the increasing role and position of Vietnam in the international arena and wished Vietnam always prosperity.

Senate President Milos Vystrcil said that Vietnam always holds a special position for the Czech Republic; affirmed that Vietnam is one of the Czech Republic's leading important partners in Southeast Asia, expressing his belief that the visit is an important event, contributing to creating a solid foundation to bring the two countries' relations to new heights in the future.

The President of the Czech Senate affirmed that the Strategic Partnership will open up many new cooperation opportunities, especially in economic cooperation, security-defense, education-training, especially sharing experiences in university training, science-technology, and scientific research.

The two sides expressed their delight at the socio-economic development achievements of the two countries, as well as the positive development of bilateral relations in recent times despite many fluctuations in the world situation.

In that spirit, the two sides agreed to realize the content of the Strategic Partnership, increase delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level and people-to-people exchanges, security-defense cooperation, education-training, and tourism. The Prime Minister asked the Czech Senate to support granting labor quotas to Vietnam, creating conditions for ordinary passport holders to visit and travel in the Czech Republic.

Emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the two parliaments in the overall bilateral relationship, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Senate President Milos Vystrcil both supported the enhancement of delegation exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries to share experience in policy and law making.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh respectfully conveyed to Senate President Milos Vystrcil the invitation to visit Vietnam from National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

To realize the Strategic Partnership, the Prime Minister suggested that the two sides establish extensive cooperation mechanisms and prepare for the 8th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic Cooperation.

The Prime Minister hopes that the Czech Senate will support cooperation agreements between the two countries as well as economic cooperation frameworks, encouraging investment in areas where both sides have strengths.

Appreciating the results achieved at the talks between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Senate President Milos Vystrcil affirmed his support for the directions and measures of the two Governments to bring the bilateral friendship and cooperation to a new stage of development after upgrading the relationship to a Strategic Partnership.

Assessing Vietnam as one of the Czech Republic's potential markets in Southeast Asia, with more and more Czech enterprises interested in expanding investment and business in Vietnam, the President of the Czech Senate agreed with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's proposal to urge the remaining European countries to soon ratify the Investment Protection Agreement between Vietnam and the European Union (EVIPA).

The President of the Czech Senate thanked Vietnam for exempting visas for Czech citizens in 2025, highly appreciating the impact of this decision on tourism and people-to-people exchange.

The two sides affirmed to continue to closely coordinate, share experiences and support each other at multilateral forums, regional and international inter-parliamentary forums to contribute to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea issue, the Prime Minister asked the Czech Senate to support ASEAN's central stance, affirming the importance of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the world as well as peace, stability, safety, security and freedom of navigation in the East Sea, supporting international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Regarding the community of 100,000 Vietnamese people living, studying and working in the Czech Republic, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh thanked the Czech government and Parliament for creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to successfully integrate and contribute to the socio-economic development and cultural diversity of the Czech Republic, affirming that the Vietnamese community is a bridge for the relationship between the two countries.

This is the final activity of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during his official visit to the Czech Republic.

On the same evening, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his wife and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation left Prague for Switzerland to attend the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum and conduct bilateral activities in Switzerland./.

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