At the meeting between Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Trần Quốc Vượng, and First Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) Jan Hamáček. — VNA/VNS Photo

PRAGUE — Senior leaders of the Czech Republic affirmed that the European country considers Viet Nam its leading partner in Southeast Asia while receiving Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Trần Quốc Vượng in Prague on Wednesday.

Vượng paid a visit to the Czech Republic from October 22-24 at the invitation of Vojtěch Filip, Vice Chairman of the Czech Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies and Chairman of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM).

He met with Jan Hamáček, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD); and Karel Havlíček, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade. He also held talks with KSCM leaders to promote traditional friendship between the two countries more practically and effectively.

At the meetings, the two sides shared their views on the unceasing development of friendship and collaboration between Việt Nam and the Czech Republic, with regular high-level political dialogues.

Việt Nam wishes to enhance cooperation with the Czech Republic through Party channels and people-to-people diplomacy, Vượng said.

The hosts said the Czech Republic wants to develop the friendship and cooperation with Việt Nam, especially in economy-trade and defence-security, and agreed to work with the Vietnamese side to organise activities celebrating the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2020.

Vượng and Jan Hamáček discussed measures to step up bilateral collaboration, particularly in fighting crime and citizen protection.

Vượng called on the Czech Republic to facilitate the travel of Vietnamese and Czech citizens in order to boost tourism development, people-to-people exchanges and trade links between the two countries.

Hamáček said the Czech Republic will roll out a more open policy on visas to foreigners, including Vietnamese.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Vuong thanked the Czech Republic for its support for Việt Nam’s stance on settling East Sea disputes by peaceful measures, in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), and ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the waters.

At a meeting with Karel Havlíček, the two sides looked into measures to boost cooperation in economy, trade, education and defence equipment procurement.

Vượng expressed appreciation at the fruitful bilateral ties, with two-way trade reaching nearly $1.2 billion. However, he said, the economic-trade cooperation has yet to match its potential.

Havlíček told his guest that the Czech Republic wants to sign a cooperation agreement with Việt Nam in geological survey, mining; scientific research, education; high-tech production and transfer, and defence-security.

At the meeting with Vojtěch Filip as well as talks with KSCM First Deputy Chairman Petr Simunek and Deputy Chairman Vaclav Ort, the sides also sought specific measures to enhance bilateral relations, covering the Party channel.

Vượng said Việt Nam wishes to strengthen the time-honoured friendship with the Czech Republic in all channels, especially with the KSCM, while developing cooperative ties with parties in the ruling alliance and other parties that hold important roles in the Czech political arena to create a firm political foundation for more comprehensive bilateral cooperation.

The hosts expressed their wish that the CPV and the KSCM will regularly exchange information about the two Parties, countries and the global political situation to strengthen their cooperation.

Also, on Wednesday, Vượng visited the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy. Earlier, he attended a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the Vietnamese Association in the country. — VNS