Prague (VNA) – Vietnam attaches greatimportance to developing relations with traditional friends in Central EasternEurope, with the Czech Republic a prioritised partner.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Nganmade the statement during talks with President of the Senate of the CzechParliament Milan Stech in Prague on April 12.

She said Vietnam remembers the assistance of theCzech state and people in the cause of national independence and reunification. 

The top legislator thanked the Czech parliamentand government for recognising Vietnamese-Czech people as one of the country’sethnic minority groups in 2013, calling this a valuable asset for the twonation’s friendship.

She highlighted the traditional friendship andcooperation between Vietnam and the Czech Republic over the past 67 years,which have been nurtured by the two countries’ leaders and peoples.

Vietnam is willing to create favourableconditions for Czech businesses to explore long-term investment in Vietnam,Ngan said.

The Southeast Asian country also hopes to workwith the Czech Republic at regional and international forums, especially theUnited Nations, Asia-Europe Meeting and ASEAN-EU, she added.

She affirmed that Vietnam will help the CzechRepublic enhance relations with ASEAN, and proposed the European nation supportVietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for2020-2021.

Bilateral cooperation has seen progress invarious fields in recent years thanks to high-level delegation exchanges, shesaid.

She welcomed Czech President Milos Zeman to paya State visit to Vietnam in 2017, a move expected to open a new period ofdevelopment for bilateral amity.

There is a plenty of room for the two countriesto step up cooperation in economics, trade and investment, she said, notingthat the Czech Republic added Vietnam – the only nation in ASEAN – into itslist of 12 key trade markets.

Chairwoman Ngan proposed the Czech Republicenable businesses to sign deals to export Vietnam’s farm produce and seafood tothe market and to import industrial goods, materials and spare parts from theCzech Republic.

She also called on the European country to makeit easier for representatives of Vietnamese businesses to obtain visas to studythe Czech market, seek partners and attend trade fairs and exhibitions.

Senate President Stech said Vietnam has theclosest relations with his country in Southeast Asia.

The two sides need to reach an agreement oninvestment protection to drive economic relations forward, he said, adding thatCzech companies are willing to set up joint ventures with Vietnamese firms toboost investment in science and technology.

He described Vietnam as a successful economy inSoutheast Asia, and suggested the two sides make use of their respectivestrengths for mutual development.

Both sides agreed to push the EU to sign the Vietnam-EUfree trade agreement, which will boost trade between Vietnam and the CzechRepublic.

Parliamentary cooperation has been reinforcedover the past few years thanks to regular high-level delegation exchanges.

The host and guest agreed that the twocountries’ legislative bodies should increase rapports at multilateralparliamentary forums such as Inter-Parliamentary Union and Asia-EuropeParliamentary Partnership.

Vietnam and the Czech Republic will coordinateto monitor the implementation of cooperation agreements and projects signedbetween the two countries’ governments.

At a meeting with the press, the two sidesaffirmed that they reached consensus in various fields, and the cooperationpotential is enormous.

Chairwoman Ngan said leaders of the Vietnameseand Czech legislative bodies had a candid discussion on issues of mutualconcern.

President Milan Stech said both sides agreed tocreate a legal investment protection corridor for private enterprises.

With a large population and high economicgrowth, Vietnam can attract Czech investors, he added.

The same day, the President hosted a banquet towelcome the Vietnamese top legislator and her entourage to visit the CzechRepublic. -VNA