On the afternoon of May 23, at the National Assembly House, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue received Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Czech Republic Jan Bartosek.
The President of the National Assembly warmly welcomed Mr. Jan Bartosek, Vice Chairman of the Czech House of Representatives, to visit Vietnam. Appreciating the results of the talks between the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai on the same day, the National Assembly Chairwoman emphasized that the visit of Mr. Jan Bartosek and the Delegation continues to contribute to strengthening the cooperation relationship between the two legislative bodies in particular and between the two countries in general.
The National Assembly Chairwoman emphasized that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing relations with traditional friends in Central and Eastern Europe, of which the Czech Republic is one of the most important partners. Over the past time, the two countries have had very good political and diplomatic relations, with Government agencies and the National Assembly continuously exchanging high-level delegations.
On this occasion, the National Assembly Chairman would like to thank traditional friends, including the Czech Republic, for supporting Vietnam in the past struggle for national liberation and in the present national construction and development. Thousands of Vietnamese officials, engineers and workers have been helped by the Czech Republic to study and work. Many of them are holding important positions in the State apparatus as well as in the socio-economic life of Vietnam.
Appreciating the Czech Republic's recognition of the Vietnamese community as an ethnic minority in the Czech Republic, the National Assembly Chairwoman said that this is a basic condition, contributing to strengthening relations between the two countries and two peoples.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Czech Republic Jan Bartosek thanked the Speaker of the National Assembly for his reception, and emphasized that the traditional friendship and cooperation developed by the two countries for decades have brought "sweet fruits" and many important results. Recalling the official visit to Vietnam by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in April 4, Vice Chairman of the Czech House of Representatives said that the exchange of high-level delegations at all levels demonstrated the interest and efforts of the leaders of the two countries to raise the level of diplomatic relations.
Mr. Jan Bartosek hoped that the two countries would soon open direct flights to promote tourism cooperation; promoting trade cooperation between the two countries in a more balanced direction, the Czech Republic soon exported products such as beef and pork to Vietnam; strengthen cooperation in the field of security, cooperation in the prevention and combat of all kinds of crimes, especially drug crimes...
At the meeting, the National Assembly Speaker agreed with the Vice Speaker of the Czech House of Representatives, saying that tourism cooperation is one of the potential areas if the two countries soon open direct flights. This will at the same time promote trade cooperation, investment, people-to-people exchanges. This is also the desire of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic.
In 2022, the bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and the Czech Republic will reach US$ 848 million, an increase of 15% compared to 2021. However, this figure is still modest compared to the potential and wishes of the two countries. Emphasizing that the two economies are complementary, the National Assembly Chairwoman said that the Czech Republic is a country with potential for agricultural development and can invest in a processing plant for agricultural products for export in Vietnam. Vietnam wishes to have more goods into the EU market, including the Czech Republic, on the basis of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA); on the contrary, Vietnam creates favorable conditions to increase the output of Czech goods into Vietnam.
Regarding parliamentary/parliamentary cooperation of the two countries, the National Assembly Chairman suggested that the two sides continue to promote the exchange of delegations; continue to implement the Cooperation Agreement between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Czech House of Representatives signed in 2009, and at the same time consider signing a new Cooperation Agreement to suit the current situation.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Jan Bartosek emphasized that the Vietnamese community is recognized as an ethnic minority in the Czech Republic, an integral part of Czech society, contributing to building a bridge of friendship between the two peoples. Emphasizing his interest in the field of education and training, Mr. Jan Bartosek wishes to continue promoting cooperation in this field and said that the Czech Republic grants PhD scholarships to Vietnam. Education and training are also the foundation for developing the friendship between the two countries.
Expressing his agreement with the Vice Chairman of the Czech House of Representatives on the opening of a Czech Cultural Center in Vietnam soon, according to the National Assembly Chairwoman, in the context of unpredictable world economic fluctuations, on the basis of the traditional friendship, strengthening cooperation between the two sides is very important. The President of the National Assembly suggested that the Czech Republic promote the remaining countries in the EU to soon ratify the Investment Protection Agreement between Vietnam and the European Union (EVIPA) to further expand investment cooperation opportunities between the two sides; urge the European Council (EC) to soon remove the IUU "yellow card" for Vietnamese seafood.
At the meeting, the President of the National Assembly and the Deputy Speaker of the Czech House of Representatives discussed a number of international and regional issues of mutual concern. Regarding the East Sea, the Czech National Assembly Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Czech House of Representatives affirmed their support for the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).
On this occasion, through Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives Jan Bartosek, President of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue sent greetings and invited the President of the House of Representatives and the President of the Czech Senate to pay an official visit to Vietnam; invites the Czech Parliament to send a delegation to attend the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians Conference scheduled from September 15 to 17, 9 in Vietnam.
Then, Vice Chairman of the Czech House of Representatives Jan Bartosek and members of the delegation attended the plenary session of the National Assembly of Vietnam./.
