Vietnam

On Monday, April 13, in Hanoi, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung met with his Slovak counterpart, Robert Fico, who was on an official visit to Vietnam.

During the meeting, the Vietnamese head of government emphasized the longstanding friendship between Vietnam and Slovakia, developed over 76 years of relations characterized by constant support and mutual cooperation.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to strengthening relations with traditional partners, including Slovakia, considered a priority partner in Central and Eastern Europe.

Prime Minister Fico acknowledged Vietnam as Slovakia’s main partner in Southeast Asia and one of the key partners in Asia. He described his visit as historic, signaling a new phase in bilateral relations.

The leaders discussed various bilateral and regional issues of common interest. They were pleased with the dynamic development of cooperation in many areas, especially in politics and diplomacy.

Both parties agreed to enhance the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms and work towards doubling bilateral trade exchanges in the coming years.

They also planned to create favorable conditions for businesses to access respective markets, focusing on areas like information technology, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and the automotive industry.

Additionally, they expressed their desire to expand cooperation in sectors like defense, security, energy, nuclear technology, education, culture, tourism, health, and climate change.

Both leaders proposed negotiations for bilateral agreements on labor mobility and potential visa exemptions for passport holders. They also discussed promoting tourism and establishing direct flights between Bratislava and Vietnamese cities.

At the end of the meeting, they issued a joint declaration elevating the Vietnam-Slovakia relationship to a “strategic partnership,” marking a historic milestone. The Slovak Prime Minister invited his Vietnamese counterpart to visit Slovakia, an invitation that was accepted.

[VNA/CVN]