PM’s Czech visit to open new chapter in bilateral ties: ambassador
The official visit to the Czech Republic by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh from January 18-20 will help open a new chapter in and lift the two countries’ relations to a new height, as the two PMs plan to announce the upgrade of the bilateral ties to a strategic partnership this time.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and his Czech counterpart Petr Fiala pose for a photo (Photo: VNA)
Prague (VNA) 🔯- The official visit to the Czech Republic by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh from January 18-20 will help open a new chapter in and lift the two countries’ relations to a new height, as the two PMs plan to announce the upgrade of the bilateral ties to a strategic partnership this time.
The statement was made by Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Duong Hoai Nam in his interview with the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the visit.
Nam said that the trip, to be made at invitation of PM Petr Fiala, is of great significance, as it takes place in the context that the two nations are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties (February 2, 1950-2025).
The ambassador said that the visit is an opportunity for both sides to reflect on the 75-year journey of their relationship, which has been built on a foundation of political trust, sustainable cooperation, and mutual respect.
This is the first trip to the Czech Republic by a Vietnamese Prime Minister since the COVID-19 pandemic, and also the first by a foreign high-ranking leader to the Central European nation in 2025, marking the start of a series of events to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations.
The two sides will focus on exchanging measures to strengthen their comprehensive cooperation in various fields, including politics-diplomacy, economy-trade-investment, science-technology, innovation, education-training, culture-sports-tourism, labour, sustainable development, and people-to-people exchanges. This will contribute to further deepening the existing cooperation foundations, exploring new potential areas, and opening up new opportunities for bilateral collaboration, Nam stressed.
The two sides are expected to sign several documents to promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of education-training, and sports, and continue discussions on the possibility of establishing direct flight routes and opening cultural centres in each country to boost trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
Another highlight is that PM Chinh and his spouse will attend the 2025 Xuan Que Huong (Homeland Spring) event, organised by the embassy in collaboration with the Confederation of Vietnamese Associations in Europe and the Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic, Nam said, adding that this will be the first time that a high-ranking Vietnamese leader participates in such event and extends New Year greetings to the Vietnamese community there.
This event reaffirms the consistent policy of the Party and State, which views the overseas Vietnamese community as an integral part and a valuable resource of the nation, and also underscores their important role in strengthening cooperation between Vietnam and other countries around the world, he emphasised.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Duong Hoai Nam (L) poses for a photo with Czech President Petr Pavel (Photo: VNA)
The Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic, one of the largest ethnic minority communities in the European nation with around 100,000 members, is highly regarded by the host government for their work ethic, integration, and significant contributions to local socio-economic development.
Regarding the bilateral relationship, the diplomat asserted that it has maintained a stable and positive development over the past 75 years. High-ranking leaders have continuously made mutual visits, actively coordinating with and supporting each other at multilateral forums and international organisations. The two sides have maintained effective bilateral cooperation mechanisms, such as the Vietnam-Czech Republic Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic Cooperation which meets biennially and has held seven sessions to date. So far, approximately 50 bilateral agreements have been signed and implemented.
Additionally, the Czech Republic views Vietnam as a key partner and a gateway connecting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with Europe, and as a priority in its strategy on cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region.
Two-way trade reached 2.9 billion USD in 2023, and was estimated at 3.8 billion USD last year, up 28% year-on-year. The Czech Republic is running 41 direct investment projects in Vietnam, with a total registered capital of 92.39 million USD. The two sides still have significant potential and room to expand cooperation into such areas as green transformation, digital transformation, renewable energy, and mining, Nam stated.
In 2025, the embassy will maintain coordination with relevant ministries and agencies from both countries, as well as the Confederation of Vietnamese Associations in Europe and the Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic, to organise a series of activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties. These activities will focus on introducing and promoting the cultural traditions, images, and people of Vietnam, not only to the local population but also to the second and third generations of Vietnamese people in the Czech Republic to help the younger generations born and raised there gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s history and culture, thereby fostering a stronger connection to their homeland, added the ambassador./.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse Le Thi Bich Tran, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation departed Hanoi on January 15 afternoon for official visits to Poland and the Czech Republic, attendance at the 55th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos and bilateral meetings in Switzerland.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation are set to make official visits to Poland and the Czech Republic as well as attend the 55th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos and engage in bilateral meetings in Switzerland.
Defence cooperation plays an important role in the overall ties between Vietnam and the Czech Republic, stated Vietnamese Ambassador to the European country Duong Hoai Nam, pointing to numerous opportunities for the two sides to further promote collaboration in this field.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
