BRATISLAVA – Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ has called on the Slovakian government to continue creating ideal conditions for Vietnamese businesses in Slovakia and to ensure equality for Vietnamese workers there.

At a meeting with Slovakian Deputy PM and Minister of Interior Robert Kalinak in Bratislava, Slovakia, on Wednesday, Deputy PM Huệ said Slovakia and Việt Nam have great potential for co-operation.

Slovakia is Việt Nam’s largest trade partner in Central and Eastern Europe, while Việt Nam is Slovakia’s 14th largest trade partner, said Huệ.

Both host and guest agreed to devise co-operation mechanisms for action plans, organise trade promotion activities, connect businesses and localities in the two countries and help enterprises invest in the respective markets.

They also discussed the benefits of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement to Vietnamese and Slovakian businesses and people and agreed to push for the signing of the deal.

Kalinak expressed his belief that Huệ’s visit to Slovakia, his first visit to the Central European nation in his capacity as Vietnamese deputy PM, will advance ties between the two countries.

Slovakia is Việt Nam’s faithful and close friend and stands ready to support the country in any circumstance, he said.

The same day, Deputy PM Huệ visited the Trnava region, where chairman of the region Tibor Mikus affirmed that the Trnava people have special sentiments towards Việt Nam.

Trnava plans to step up investment and trade activities in Việt Nam, while encouraging Vietnamese enterprises to operate in the region.

Deputy PM Huệ said the Vietnamese government welcomes Slovak localities, including Trnava, to establish twin relationships with Vietnamese cities and provinces to boost connectivity and create opportunities for the two sides’ firms and people.

He also talked about possibilities for co-operation in fields related to Trnava’s strengths, such as heavy industry, chemicals, electricity and electronics, as well as auto manufacturing, wood processing and high-tech industries.

The official called on Trnava authorities to continue their support and create optimal conditions for the 400-strong Vietnamese community in the region.

In Horne Saliby town of Trnava, Deputy PM Huệ and the authorities of Trnava and Horne Saliby inaugurated a plaque in memory of President Hồ Chí Minh’s visit to the town on September 18, 1957. — VNS