Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (right) and Vice Chairman of the Czech Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies Vojtěch Filip, who is also Chairman of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM). — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday applauded the Czech Republic’s decision to reinstate issuing working visas to Vietnamese citizens.

He was speaking at a reception in Hà Nội with Vojtěch Filip, Vice Chairman of the Czech Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies and Chairman of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM).

PM Phúc said Việt Nam will intensify the management of its workforce.

He also told the Czech delegation how much he values joint projects between the two countries and praised the planned direct flight link between Hà Nội and Prague.

He described these projects as specific measures to promote the bilateral cooperation, especially in economy and trade, given the modest two-way trade that stood at only US$307 million last year. 

Phúc thanked the Czech Republic for supporting Việt Nam’s candidacy as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-21, and the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement, which is expected to help businesses from the Czech Republic and the EU access the 90-million Vietnamese market. 

Informing the PM about his working session with Vietnamese Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Đào Ngọc Dung, Vojtěch Filip said the Czech Republic can receive about 3,000-4,000 Vietnamese nurses. 

The two countries also agreed to exchange doctors during a meeting between Vojtěch Filip and representatives of the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. 

The Czech lawmaker said during his stay in Việt Nam he also discussed the promotion of cooperation at working sessions with officers from the ministries of Public Security and National Defence. 

Regarding collaboration in car manufacturing between the Czech Republic’s Skoda Auto and its Vietnamese partner, the guest said part of the production line will be set up in Vietnam in the future, adding that he hopes Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis will be in Việt Nam to mark the start of construction work on the project. 

He also handed over to PM Phúc documents relating to joint projects between the Czech Republic and Việt Nam. — VNS