Prague (VNA) – A delegation of the ASEAN Committeein the Czech Republic paid aworking visit to Ústí nad Labem city on November 12, as part of the Committee’sprogramme on promoting exchange and cooperation with Czech localities in 2021.

The city, the political and economic centre of the Ústecký Region,is the 7th largest city in the Czech Republic with a population of 92,000.

Receiving the delegation, Governor of Ústecký Jan Schiller laudedASEAN member countries’ dynamic development as well as the ASEAN Committee’sefforts to strengthen and promote exchanges and collaboration between ASEAN and Czechlocalities.

He expressed his hope and confidence that ASEAN and theCzech Republic, including the Ústecký Region, will continue to promote andstrengthen cooperation in areas of their strengths and mutual interest.

At a working session between the delegation and localexperts and representatives of competent agencies, the sides discussed posibilities for cooperation in fields of mutual interest, such as medical personnel training, hydropower, nuclear power, education and training, science andtechnology, labour and employment cooperation, and other social issues.

Vietnamese Ambassador Thai Xuan Dung praised the potential for economic, tradeand investment cooperation between Vietnam and the Czech Republic in generaland the city and region in particular.

He suggested the two countries ultilise favourable conditions brought about by theEU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) in extending their bilateralengagements toward effectiveness and practical outcomes, particularly in energy,industry, and science and technology.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency’s correspondent,Dr. Vladimír Zemánek from the Czech-based technology company CHEMINVEST said thereis extensive room for joint works between Vietnam and the Czech Republic ingeneral and Ústecký in particular, specifically in the fields of energy,construction and technology industries focusing on new, innovative andenvironmentally friendly technologies.

The ASEAN Committee in the European nation groups theembassies of Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand andVietnam./.