National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech parliament Jan Bartosek. (Photo: VNA) Hue hailed the outcomes of the talks between Bartosekand NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai, which took place earlier the same day, andstressed that the Czech legislator’s Vietnam visit contributes to boosting cooperationbetween the two countries in general and their legislative bodies inparticular.
Vietnam always attaches importance to developing relationswith traditional friends in Central-Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic,he said, noting that the bilateral political and diplomatic ties have beendeveloping fruitfully, and agencies of the two governments and legislatures havemaintained all-level delegation exchanges.
Hue used the occasion to thank the Czech Republic andother traditional friends for their support for Vietnam during its paststruggle for national liberation, as well as the present cause of national constructionand development, highlighting that thousands of Vietnamese officials, engineers and workers have studied and worked in the Czech Republic, and many of them areholding important positions in the State apparatus, and the socio-economic lifein Vietnam.
Speaking highly of the Czech Republic’s recognition ofthe Vietnamese community as an ethnic minority group in the country, Hue saidthe recognition will contribute to enhancing the bilateral relations.
For his part, Bartosek emphasised that the traditionalfriendship and cooperation between the two countries have yielded fruits.
Recalling the official visit to Vietnam by Czech PrimeMinister Petr Fiala last April, the legislator said all-level delegationexchanges demonstrate the attention and efforts of the two countries’ leadersin elevating the bilateral diplomatic ties.
Bartosek expressed his hope that the two countrieswill open direct flights in order to forge their tourism cooperation and promotetheir trade ties in a more balanced fashion.
Host and guest shared the view that tourism will be a promisingcooperation area if the two countries launch direct flights. This will alsohelp enhance cooperation in trade, investment and people-to-people exchange.
Last year, two-way trade reached 848 million USD, up15% from 2021, which, however, has yet to match their potential and desires, Huesaid, stressing that the two economies are reciprocal.
Vietnam wants to export many products to the EU,including the Czech Republic, on the basis of the EU-Vietnam Free TradeAgreement, and vice versa, Vietnam will facilitate Czechgoods' access to its market, he continued.
Regarding the legislative ties, the NA Chairmansuggested the two sides continue pushing ahead with delegation exchanges, and and consider the signing of a new cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese legislature and the Czech Chamberof Deputies to replace the one signed in 2009.
Bartosek affirmed that the Vietnamese community formsan integral part of the Czech society, and has helped build a friendship bridgebetween the two countries.
The official expressed his hope for strongercollaboration in education and training, promising that the Czech Republic willgrant scholarships to Vietnamese post graduate students.
Hue suggested the Czech Republic urge other EUcountries to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, andthe European Commission (EC) to soon remove its “yellow card” warning against Vietnameseseafood.
The two sides also exchanged views on some regional andinternational issues of shared concern.
Regarding the East Sea issue, Bartosek affirmed hissupport for the settlement of disputes by peaceful measures, and in accordance withinternational law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law ofthe Sea (1982 UNCLOS).
Hue asked Bartosek to convey his regards and invitationsto the speakers of the lower house and upper house of the Czech parliament to pay officialvisits to Vietnam. He also invited a delegation from the Czech parliament toattend the ninth Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Forum of Young Parliamentariansslated for September 15-17 in Hanoi.
Bartosek and his entourage attend a plenary session of the Vietnamese NA. (Photo: VNA) Bartosek and hisentourage then attended a plenary session of the Vietnamese NA./.
VNA
