President Truong Tan Sang and President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman at the talk (Photo: VNA)

State President Truong Tan Sang held talks with President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman in Prague on May 11 after being warmly welcomed in the nation.

Expressing satisfaction with the past 65 years of all-around bilateral cooperation, the two Presidents agreed to hold a series of events celebrating the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties, including photo exhibitions, film screenings and art troupe exchanges.

They said economic-trade and investment links should be on par with their potential and the effective Inter-Governmental Committee on Vietnam-Czech Republic Economic Cooperation mechanism will continue facilitating trade in infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, public transport, agricultural mechanical engineering, electric and medical equipment, construction materials and food processing, among others.

Both sides concurred to boosting links across education-training, national defence-security, science-technology, culture-sports and tourism, and transport.

The Vietnamese leader asked the Czech Republic to continue its supply of official development assistance to Vietnam ’s projects in the environment, forestation, waste treatment, community health care, insurance system reform and hospital construction.

He also thanked the host leaders and authorities for their support to Vietnamese nationals living in the country, expressing his belief that the Vietnamese community would continue serving as a bridge between the two nations.

President Zeman emphatically stated that as an active member of the European Union (EU), the nation backs the strengthening of the relationship between Vietnam and the EU.

He confirmed that the Czech Republic has ratified the EU-Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA) and pledged to hasten the EU for early approval.

The leader also vowed to push for the expeditious signing of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement, while simultaneously recognising Vietnam as a market economy.

Discussing international and regional issues of shared concern, including the East Sea developments, both host and guest agreed that disputes should be settled by peaceful means in line with international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) for peace, stability, maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the region.

During a press briefing following the talks, both leaders highlighted key pillars in bilateral ties that will be the focus looking forward.

Source: vietnam+