(VOVWORLD) -Following the official welcome ceremony for Czech President Milos Zeman in Hanoi on Wednesday, President Tran Dai Quang and his Czech counterpart held talks to seek measures to boost bilateral cooperation.
 President Tran Dai Quang and his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman witnessed the signing of cooperative agreements (Photo: Anh Huyen/VOV5) |
Both sides agreed to exchange delegations at various levels and pledged to work closely with each other at international and regional forums, such as ASEAN, ASEM, the EU, and the UN. President Quang called on President Zeman to support the early signing of the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement, and the EU’s upcoming recognition of Vietnam’s full market economy status. Both sides agreed on the agenda of the Vietnam-Czech Intergovernmental Committee’s meeting slated for early next year. President Quang said Vietnam welcomes and makes it easy for Czech investors to invest in Vietnam. Both stressed the need to boost cooperation in health care, education, culture, tourism, and defense. Regarding the East Sea issue, the two leaders stressed the need to settle all disputes through peaceful measures, including diplomatic and legal processes in conformity with international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS).
Afterwards, the Presidents witnessed the signing of cooperation documents between the two countries, including an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons and another on combating crimes.
At a press conference, President Quang said he and President Zeman had a successful talk: “On the firm foundation of the 67-year traditional friendship, I hope that the Vietnam-Czech Republic cooperation will continue to develop to new heights, living up to the two people’s aspirations. The Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic will help boost our friendship.”
President Milos Zeman stressed the effectiveness of his Vietnam visit: “68 Czech companies accompanying me to Vietnam demonstrate our wish to gain concrete cooperation outcomes with Vietnam. At yesterday’s business forum, both sides signed 7 cooperative deals, including a 20 million USD agreement on building a resort in central Vietnam. This is the first agreement and there will be a boom of tourism cooperation in the near future.”
President Zeman proposed establishing a direct flight between Ho Chi Minh city and Prague.