Ho Chi Minh City, Slovakia aim to strengthen cooperation in key sectors

The commitment was reaffirmed on Tuesday, when leaders of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ho Chi Minh City received Slovakia’s Minister of Culture Martina Simkovicova and Deputy Minister of Economy Vladimir Simonak, along with a visiting delegation.

Dang Minh Thong, deputy secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, welcomed the delegation and congratulated Slovakia on the success of Prime Minister Robert Fico’s official visit to Vietnam from April 12 to 14.

The visit was made at the invitation of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, during which both countries agreed to upgrade ties to a strategic partnership.

Thong noted that 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Slovakia, describing it as a significant milestone in their long-standing friendship.

Last year also saw several cultural exchange activities, including Slovak Culture Day, he said, adding that the city also maintains a partnership with the Slovak city of Kosice, established in 2016.

At the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the importance of their traditional friendship and agreed to expand cooperation across a wide range of areas following the upgrade of relations to a strategic partnership.

These include trade, education, science and technology, innovation, culture, tourism, and multilateral coordination.

As a leading economic, cultural and innovation hub, Ho Chi Minh City is prioritizing the development of cultural industries, including film, performing arts, creative design, museums and digital content, Thong said.

He proposed deeper cooperation with Slovakia in urban heritage preservation and promotion, as well as enhanced people-to-people exchanges, particularly among younger generations.

He also called for further efforts to highlight the historical significance of President Ho Chi Minh’s visit to the Slovak town of Horne Saliby in 1957.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Simkovicova thanked Ho Chi Minh City for its warm reception and said the delegation, despite a tight schedule, was impressed by Vietnam’s hospitality and friendliness.

She noted that the delegation also participated in cultural activities in Hanoi and appreciated the richness and vibrancy of Vietnamese culture.

On cultural cooperation, the minister said that during Fico’s visit both sides signed a memorandum of understanding and discussed future directions, including heritage preservation, promotion of cultural values and expanded exchanges.

She also underscored that the Vietnamese community in Slovakia has been officially recognized as a national minority, with Slovakia allocating around 100,000 euros in 2025 to support its cultural activities and expected to continue support in 2026.

On economic ties, Deputy Minister Simonak said bilateral trade remains below its potential despite strong political relations between the two countries.

He added that both sides had organized a business forum in Hanoi and planned to continue with an investment forum in Ho Chi Minh City to further boost economic cooperation.

He noted that Slovakia views Vietnam as a gateway to Southeast Asia, while Slovakia is considered a promising entry point for Vietnamese businesses to the European Union market.

Both sides expressed support for launching direct flights between the two countries to facilitate trade and tourism and reaffirmed their commitment to creating favorable conditions for future cooperation projects.