Trade pact with European Union a fillip for Viet Nam, Slovakia

President Truong Tan Sang (right) meets with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajcak in Ha Noi. - VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Khang.

Sang was speaking at a reception to welcome Miroslav.

The Slovakian Deputy PM said his country would continue to promote its relationship with Viet Nam.

Praising the important contributions of the Vietnamese community in Slovakia , he suggested the two countries increase high-level relations, people-to-people exchanges and co-operation in art training.

He said many Slovakian businesses wanted to collaborate on nuclear energy, agriculture and water resource management, adding that his country's investment in Viet Nam now totalted US$235 million.

Lajcak stressed that Slovakia was ready to share experiences in economic transfer with Viet Nam, hoping the two countries would establish a strategic partnership in the near future.

Trade ties

Viet Nam and Slovakia have agreed to promote bilateral trade ties by expanding investment in infrastructure, railways, renewable energy, environmental technology and food processing.

The agreement was reached during talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and his Slovakian counterpart, Miroslav Lajcak, yesterday in Ha Noi.

The two agreed to continue the Viet Nam-Slovakia Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic Cooperation.

Both sides underscored the partnership between the two countries, which has a history of nearly 65 years.

The two officials discussed ways to enhance bilateral affiliation in politics-diplomacy, defence-security, economy-trade, culture, education-training, and development.

They also agreed on the need to increase exchange by delegations, as well as boost co-ordination at regional and international forums, especially the United Nations and the Asia-Europe Meeting.

Slovakian Deputy PM and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajcak said his country had ratified the Viet Nam -EU Framework Agreement on Partnership and Comprehensive Cooperation, and supported the early conclusion of negotiations for the EU- Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

The two sides also exchanged views on a number of regional and international matters of mutual concern, including the East Sea issue.

Deputy PM Minh thanked the Slovakian Government for assisting the Vietnamese community in the country.

Following the talks, the two Deputy PMs witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on co-operation in environmental protection and water resource management between the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Slovakia's Ministry of Water Environment.