National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân (R) receives Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Việt Nam Vitezslav Grepl on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

HÀ NỘI — National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân on Wednesday received Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Việt Nam Vitezslav Grepl.

Ngân said she hoped the new ambassador will work to help bring bilateral economic, trade and investment ties on par with the sound political and diplomatic relationship that the two nations enjoy.

With bilateral trade of around US$249 million a year, the Czech Republic ranks 45th of 116 countries and territories doing business with and in Việt Nam, she noted.

The Czech envoy said about 100,000 Vietnamese people were living in his country, making them the third largest Vietnamese community in Europe after France and Germany. They were recognised as an ethnic minority group contributing to the Czech Republic, he said. 

The Czech government has carried out a number of projects to help Vietnamese people integrate into the local society while retaining their national identities, he added.

VN, Norway ties

The same day, Ngân received Norwegian Ambassador Siren Gjerme Eriksen. She suggested that the two countries step up experience sharing and technology transfer in fields that Norway was strong in and Việt Nam had demand for. 

Việt Nam hopes Norway will open its market for Việt Nam’s traditional exports including agro-forestry-fisheries products, apparel and footwear, Ngân said, adding that two-way trade reached $308.2 million in 2016. 

She also requested that Norway continues ODA funding for Việt Nam, particularly in aquaculture, rural economic development and environment protection. 

The ambassador said that Norway, in its role as co-ordinator of EFTA negotiations, will work for the early conclusion to negotiations. She expressed her belief that the FTA will open up new opportunities for the business communities of both Việt Nam and the EFTA. 

The envoy also informed the host that a delegation of Norwegian firms will travel to Việt Nam this May, seeking co-operation opportunities. — VNS