Ho Chi Minh City, Czech Republic pledge enhanced cooperation, support consulate re-opening

The agreement was reached at a meeting hosted by Duoc for Vystrcil at the start of his official visit to Vietnam from November 18 to 22, at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Duoc expressed appreciation for the Czech leader’s choice of Ho Chi Minh City as his opening destination, noting that the recently upgraded strategic partnership and Prague’s recognition of the Vietnamese community as an official ethnic minority have further strengthened bilateral ties.

He spotlighted potential collaboration in areas where the Czech Republic has expertise and Ho Chi Minh City has growing demand, including high-tech industry, manufacturing, processing, education and training, automotive technology, energy, and waste management.

Duoc described the Czech Republic as one of Vietnam’s key European trade partners, with bilateral turnover surpassing US$2 billion in 2024.

He also encouraged the Czech Embassy in Vietnam to promote Czech culture, products, and technology to help expand exports to Vietnam and move toward a more balanced trade relationship.

Vystrcil welcomed Ho Chi Minh City’s proposals for broader cooperation and pledged to promote partnerships in education, environmental protection, smart technologies, artificial intelligence, and other fields.

He said he looked forward to the city’s support in re-establishing the Czech Consulate General, including assistance in selecting a suitable location.

Duoc affirmed the city’s strong backing for the re-opening of the consulate, calling it a step that will deepen ties and strengthen long-term cooperation.

He added that the Vietnamese people, particularly older generations, continue to hold deep affection for the former Czechoslovakia, reflecting the long-standing bond between the two nations.

Vystrcil said he was impressed by Ho Chi Minh City’s development and reaffirmed that the relationship between the Czech Republic and Vietnam is ‘far yet close.’

He noted that more than 300,000 Vietnamese in the Czech Republic speak and understand Czech, and the country has officially recognized the Vietnamese community as an ethnic minority, with around 50,000 members.

Over the years, the Vietnamese community has become an important part of the Czech economy.

He also expressed sympathy for recent storm and flood damage in Vietnam, saying his delegation would deliver donations from the Czech Republic to the Vietnam Red Cross to support education and training in affected areas.

Vystrcil emphasized that bilateral cooperation should extend beyond economics to include humanitarian support.

Also on Wednesday, during a gathering of Czech and Vietnamese businesses organized in Ho Chi Minh City by CzechTrade, the Czech Republic’s government trade promotion agency, Vystrcil highlighted his country’s strategic location as the ‘heart’ of Europe and a gateway for Vietnamese enterprises to the European Union.

He added that Vietnam, with its growing role in Southeast Asia and ASEAN, can likewise serve as an entry point for Czech businesses seeking expansion in Asia.