Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visits to Poland and the Czech Republic, attendance in the 55th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeti🏅ng in Davos, and bilateral meetings in Switzerland from January 16 to 23 will deepen Vietnam's ties with key partners, enhance its stature and responsibile contributions, and demonstrate its aspirations for national development while leveraging global resources for the country’s development goals, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang.

In a press interview ahead of the trip, Deputy Minister Hang highlighted its significance, emphasising that it reaffirms Vietnam’s commitment to an independent, self-reliant foreign policy, multilateralism, and diversification, alongside proactive and comprehensive international integration.

Strengthening bilateral cooperation

The trip presents a critical opportunity to advance cooperation with the three countries as well as Central and Eastern Europe, and the European Union (EU). It will reinforce Vietnam's role as a bridge linking Poland and the Czech Republic with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and promote joint efforts to address regional and global challenges, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development in each region and worldwide. Notably, the visits coincide with the 75th anniversary of Vietnam’s diplomatic ties with Poland and the Czech Republic (February 1950 - 2025). As traditional friends, these two countries have consistently supported Vietnam throughout its struggles for national independence and reunification along with its current development. During the visits, PM Chinh and the two countries' leaders will review the fruitful 75 years of collaboration, chart strategic orientations, and invigorate Vietnam's traditional friendship and multifaceted partnerships with these countries, Hang said. Key discussions will focus on measures for strengthening political trust, enhancing strategic cooperation, renewing traditional fields of collaboration such as trade, investment, labour, education - training, culture, and tourism, and creating momentum for critical and potential areas such as national defence, security, innovation, information technology, digital transformation, green transition, renewable energy, and transport connectivity. In Switzerland, an important member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), she said PM Chinh's activities will seek to intensify political trust and bilateral relations to tap into the countries' strengths and generate tangible benefits for both, especially in finance, the establishment of an international financial centre in Vietnam, technology, and innovation.

Multilateral engagement at WEF Davos

The Deputy Foreign Minister said PM Chinh's participation in the 55th WEF Annual Meeting in Davos, themed Collaboration for the Intelligent Age, is highly anticipated by WEF leaders and the global business community. The forum provides a valuable platform for Vietnam to engage directly with the international community and major corporations to look into the country's development priorities and opportunities amid profound global changes. He will convey messages about Vietnam’s determination, aspirations, and vision to achieve strategic goals for the next two decades. In-depth sharing from over 3,000 global leaders, international organisations and top corporations at the meeting are expected to help Vietnam grasp evolving development trends to build mechanisms, policies, and measures to seize opportunities and minimise adverse impacts of emerging trends. PM Chinh will also chair many discussions on practical topics aligned with Vietnam’s development priorities, particularly in implementing the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57 on making breakthroughs in science - technology development, innovation, and digital transformation. The trip is expected to unlock numerous collaboration chances in key fields like artificial intelligence (AI), innovation, high technology, smart manufacturing, the development of an international financial centre in Ho Chi Minh City, and the application of advanced technologies to the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, according to Hang.

Fostering long-standing partnerships

Talking about Vietnam's traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Poland and the Czech Republic, the official noted that they were among the first 10 countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam after the country gained independence. Meanwhile, Vietnam and Switzerland boast multifaceted collaboration that have lasted for over 50 years, and Switzerland was one of the first Western countries to set up diplomatic ties in Vietnam, in 1971. Over the past decades, these nations have provided steadfast support and significant contributions to Vietnam’s fight for national independence and reunification, along with its current development and international integration efforts. The political trust with Poland and the Czech Republic has been increasingly reinforced through all-level mutual visits. They have actively supported Vietnam to develop comprehensive partnership with the EU, particularly during the negotiation, signing, and ratification of the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). The Czech Republic was one of the first EU members to ratify the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). Besides, these two countries are leading trade partners of Vietnam in Central and Eastern Europe, Hang added, highlighting dynamic collaboration in defence - security, education - training, science - technology, culture, sports, and labour. People-to-people exchanges have also been maintained and promoted. Switzerland, a major trading partner and the sixth-largest European investor in Vietnam, and Vietnam have maintained regular high-level mutual visits and meetings, as well as close coordination at multilateral forums and international organisations. They have worked together to step up talks on an FTA between Vietnam and the the EFTA. The two sides also hold considerable potential for fostering ties in education - training, science - technology, innovation, sustainable development, culture, and tourism. The Vietnamese community in Switzerland, with around 10,000 people, also forms a friendship bridge between the two countries. Building on these solid foundations, PM Chinh’s trip is expected to help elevate Vietnam’s relationships with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland, which are all important partners in Europe, Hang remarked./.