Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (r) receives Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Vojtech Filip in Hà Nội yesterday.— VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam always wishes to develops ties with traditional friends in the central Eastern Europe, with the Czech Republic as a priority partner, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc told Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Vojtech Filip during a reception in Hà Nội yesterday.

PM Phúc lauded the guest’s proposal to boost ties in aviation technology, pilot training, use of lightweight cargo aircraft and technological transfer, saying these new types of cooperation needed to be studied and carried out in the future. He pledged to direct units concerned to offer easier visa procedures to Czech citizens. He asked for further efforts to extend bilateral economic-trade-investment ties, especially in fields suggested by the guest.

Việt Nam will create good conditions for cooperation projects with the Czech Republic, he said, highlighting the cooperation potential in aviation with countries worldwide, including the Czech Republic, as Việt Nam is witnessing a strong growth in airlines.

The leader said Việt Nam hails partnership with the Czech Republic in auto manufacturing which is in high demand in the country.

Welcoming the outcomes of the sixth Việt Nam – Czech Republic Inter-Governmental Committee meeting on economic cooperation, the PM said the Vietnamese government will work closely with their Czech counterparts to launch cooperation agreements, contributing to carrying forward bilateral relations in fields of Việt Nam’s demand and the Czech Republic’s strengths such as energy, mining, infrastructure, environment protection, and food safety.

He asked the Czech Republic to support Việt Nam’s run for non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, adding that Việt Nam wants the Czech Republic to continue promoting Việt Nam – EU comprehensive cooperative partnership and the signing of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Việt Nam is ready to help the Czech Republic reinforce ties with ASEAN and its member states, he said.

As the Czech Republic is lacking workforce, the PM proposed that it simplify visa procedures for Vietnamese citizens coming for the purpose of tourism and labour.

The host heralded the sharing of experience in legislation and supervision between the Vietnamese and Czech legislatures, believing that both sides will make important contributions to Việt Nam – Czech Republic ties in the near future.

Filip, who is also Chairman of the Communist Party of the Czech Republic-Moravia, said his visit aims to further bolster traditional friendship between the two nations. The European country always strives to offer favourable visa policy to Vietnamese citizens wishing to come for leisure, study or work, he said.

According to him, the Czech Republic has established several vocational training establishments to improve Vietnamese workers’ skills in the fields of mechanical engineering, automobile industry to supplement skilled workforce in the country.

He said his country backs Việt Nam’s run for non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, adding that the Czech parliament expects early signing of the EVFTA.

The guest suggested the Vietnamese government supports the launch of a direct flight between the two nations to boost bilateral trade and cultural exchange as the Vietnamese community is the third largest foreign one and has become an inseparable part of the socio-economic and cultural life in the Czech Republic.

He said the Czech Republic is stepping up a project on labour export with the northern province of Quảng Ninh and another on automobile manufacturing with the hope of bringing more cooperation opportunities to the two countries. — VNS