Speaking at the Forum, PM Fico said Slovakia hopes to see more Vietnamese businesses invest in Slovakia and open direct flights between the two countries. The Slovak government is committed to creating the best conditions for Vietnamese investment in Slovakia, cutting visa procedures for Vietnamese citizens traveling to Slovakia, and studying visa exemption for Vietnamese citizens holding official passport, he said.
Prime Minister Hung said that Slovakia could become a strategic gateway for Vietnamese goods to access the European Union market, adding Vietnam is an attractive investment destination and a bridge for Slovak businesses to expand into Southeast Asia. He pledged to support and protect the legitimate rights and interests of domestic and international investors, including those from Slovakia.
At the Forum, businesses from both countries introduced the potential, opportunities, capabilities, and investment cooperation needs of each country and its businesses. Under the witness of the two Prime Ministers, businesses exchanged seven Memorandums of Understanding on cooperation in manufacturing, technology, healthcare, finance, infrastructure, real estate, environment, and industrial park development.
Earlier, on Monday morning, Prime Minister Hung and Prime Minister Fico held talks, where they agreed that the 2025 bilateral trade value of 1.78 billion USD is not yet commensurate with the potential and aspirations of both sides. Both agreed to identify trade as a key pillar and will continue to coordinate efforts to double bilateral trade turnover soon. The two leaders committed to strengthening cooperation in defense and security, combating transnational crime, cybersecurity, energy, science and technology, education and training, culture, sports, tourism, agriculture, health, and climate change response.
They reiterated their commitment to continued close coordination and mutual support in international forums and organizations, especially at the UN, EU, and ASEAN. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, while supporting resolving disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Following the talks, the two sides agreed to adopt a Joint Statement on upgrading Vietnam-Slovakia relations to a Strategic Partnership.
On Monday afternoon in Hanoi, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President To Lam received Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is on an official visit to Vietnam.
