Vietnam - Czech Republic upgrade relations to strategic partnership

On the evening of January 20, Vietnam time, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala hosted a solemn welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on an official visit to the Czech Republic. During the talks, the two leaders agreed to declare the upgrading of Vietnam-Czech relations to a strategic partnership.

Thủ tướng Phạm Minh Chính và Thủ tướng Cộng hòa Séc Petr Fiala duyệt đội danh dự. — Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala review the guard of honor.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala warmly welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, emphasizing that the visit marked a new historical milestone in bilateral relations, which was the upgrading of relations to Strategic Partnership on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, opening a new page in the relationship between the two countries when Vietnam became the first Southeast Asian country to be a strategic partner of the Czech Republic, affirming that Vietnam is the most important and closest country of the Czech Republic in Southeast Asia.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala expressed his admiration and respect for Vietnam's socio-economic development and shared special feelings about his official visit to Vietnam in 2023.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed that every time he visits the Czech Republic, he feels the historical and cultural breath of Prague, the diamond of European capitals.

The Prime Minister thanked the Czech Government for its warm and cordial reception for the delegation; respectfully conveyed the greetings of General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to Prime Minister Petr Fiala and senior Czech leaders.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the Vietnamese people always remember the sincere, wholehearted, selfless and pure assistance that the Czech Republic has given to Vietnam in the cause of national liberation and national construction and development.

The Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to strengthen relations with the Czech Republic, a traditional friend and top priority partner of Vietnam in Central and Eastern Europe.

In an atmosphere of trust and frankness, the two Prime Ministers expressed their delight at the positive developments in the relationship between the two countries, agreed to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, through all channels; agreed to declare the upgrading of Vietnam-Czech relations to a Strategic Partnership and soon develop an Action Program to implement the Strategic Partnership framework in depth and practically in the new context.

With this decision, the Czech Republic becomes the first Central Eastern European country to have a strategic partnership with Vietnam.

The two sides agreed to promote cooperation within the framework of the newly established Strategic Partnership, including signed agreements between the two countries, to promote cooperation in traditional areas such as defense - security, trade - investment, science - technology, education - training, culture - tourism and people-to-people exchange, while expanding cooperation to potential areas such as renewable energy, innovation, digital transformation, green and circular economy, information technology, health care, mining, energy, food security, etc. The two sides agreed to support and act as gateways for each other's goods to enter the ASEAN and EU markets.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala appreciated Vietnam's decision to exempt visas for Czech citizens in 2025, saying that this will be a boost to enhance tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchange.

Regarding trade and investment, there is still much room for growth. The two sides agreed to encourage Czech enterprises to boost investment in Vietnam in areas of strength such as automobile support industry, renewable energy, machinery manufacturing, mineral exploitation and processing, chemicals, food processing, etc.; and coordinate to effectively implement the EVFTA. The Prime Minister asked the Czech Republic to support the remaining EU countries in promptly ratifying the EVIPA Agreement, and support the EC in promptly removing the IUU "yellow card" for Vietnamese seafood.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala was pleased that the traditional friendship between Vietnam and the Czech Republic with a history of 75 years has achieved good results; assessed Vietnam as one of the Czech Republic's most potential markets in Asia - Pacific, with more and more Czech enterprises interested in expanding investment and business in Vietnam; agreed that the two sides need to strengthen cooperation in the fields of food industry, manufacturing and processing industry, mineral exploitation and processing...; agreed with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's proposal to soon open direct flights between the two countries and via the Czech Republic to Central and Eastern Europe.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala asked the Vietnamese Government to support the establishment of a Czech cultural center in Vietnam.

The two Prime Ministers asked relevant ministries and sectors to coordinate and thoroughly prepare for the 8th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic Cooperation.

The Czech Prime Minister highly appreciated the role of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic; affirmed that he will continue to create favorable conditions for the community to live and work in the Czech Republic.

The two Prime Ministers affirmed to continue to closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums and international organizations. Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea issue, the two sides agreed that disputes and conflicts in the world need to be resolved by peaceful means, on the basis of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS.

Thủ tướng Petr Fiala giới thiệu với Thủ tướng Phạm Minh Chính thành viên đoàn Cộng hòa Séc. — Prime Minister Petr Fiala introduced to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh members of the Czech Republic delegation.

The two leaders highly appreciated the importance of defense and security cooperation and agreed to promote cooperation in peacekeeping operations within the framework of the United Nations, military trade, defense industry, pilot training; increase delegation exchanges to share experiences and coordinate in crime prevention, especially organized, transnational, high-tech crimes, illegal migration, drugs, etc.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh thanked Prime Minister Petr Fiala and the Czech Government for their attention and proposed to continue creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic to live, work and study stably in the Czech Republic.

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