Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc heldtalks with his Czech Republic counterpart Andrej Babis by telephone on March 23to discuss their efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Babis lauded Vietnam’s efforts and asked the two countries toenhance information sharing and cooperation in the field.

PM Phuc, for his part, emphasised that COVID-19 is a commonchallenge for the world at present.

Vietnam stands ready to collaborate with the Czech Republicand all of its partners to fight the epidemic, he said, adding that no countrycould unilaterally act to overcome such a global-scale public health crisis.

The Vietnamese PM thanked and spoke highly of the CzechRepublic Government and people for providing care for the Vietnamese communityin the country.

He suggested the host government continue providingfavourable conditions for them to stabilise their lives and ensure the necessaryconditions to combat the disease.

The PM affirmed that Vietnam is ready to partner the CzechRepublic in all areas to overcome existing difficulties, and will directministries and agencies to make it easier for Czech Republic citizens to returnhome in the near future.

Vietnam thanks the Government, Parliament and people of the CzechRepublic for supporting the development of the comprehensive partnership betweenVietnam and the European Union, especially pushing forward the EuropeanParliament’s ratification of the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the CzechRepublic Parliament’s approval of the EU – Vietnam Investment ProtectionAgreement, he said.

On the occasion, PM Phuc invited Babis to pay an officialvisit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 70th anniversary ofbilateral diplomatic ties.

Babis accepted the invitation with pleasure, and expressedhis hope to visit Vietnam soon./.