Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria were among the first countries in the world to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1950.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha speaks. Photo: VNA
Friendship overcomes many challenges
Attending and giving a speech at the Workshop, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, on behalf of the Government, highly appreciated the significance of this Workshop, which is an opportunity for both sides to review the glorious journey of cooperation over the past 75 years, orient the future, and expand cooperation in areas where both sides have complementary strengths, for peace and sustainable development of the region and the world .
According to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, the traditional and strong friendship between Vietnam and Central Eastern European countries has overcome numerous historical challenges.
The Deputy Prime Minister thanked and appreciated the valuable, effective and sincere support from the Central and Eastern European countries, which was not only material support but also a deep sharing of the spirit of solidarity and common values of peace, independence and freedom. Many hospitals, schools and factories built with aid from the Central and Eastern European countries have become symbols of friendship with other countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister assessed that the cooperation results between the two sides in recent times were very positive but still modest compared to the potential of the parties and proposed five key tasks to bring the Vietnam - Central Eastern Europe relationship to a new height, towards the future, which are to promote political dialogue to enhance trust and mutual understanding; promote economic cooperation, strive to increase the trade turnover between Vietnam and Central Eastern Europe to 15 billion USD by 2030, expand cooperation to the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), green energy, promote science - technology cooperation, enhance training cooperation, which are traditional cooperation fields; enhance cultural - people-to-people exchange; strengthen closer and more effective multilateral coordination, including promoting joint initiatives, such as the ASEAN - EU Green Cooperation Fund to achieve the 2030 sustainable development goals.
The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam is committed to creating favorable policies, laws and investment environment for Central Eastern European countries and Vietnam to cooperate and develop together.
Expanding cooperation into new areas
Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang speaks. Photo: VNA
Receiving the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed that this workshop is an opportunity to look back on the proud journey of friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Central and Eastern European countries.
The Deputy Minister assessed the positive results of the Workshop with many meanings in both breadth and depth; the presentations and exchanged opinions clarified the strong developments between Vietnam and Central and Eastern European countries in all fields, from politics - diplomacy, trade - investment, development cooperation, to education - training, science - technology, labor, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange, in which many opinions proposed new and creative practical directions to expand cooperation in the new context, from green, digital and circular economy, to innovation, connecting small and medium enterprises as well as young entrepreneurs.
Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to closely accompany Central and Eastern European partners to concretize ideas and initiatives into practical and effective cooperation programs that are in line with the interests and priorities of both sides.
Also at the workshop, representatives of Ambassadors of Central Eastern European countries and Vietnamese Ambassadors in Central Eastern European countries, businesses and scientists shared and proposed solutions to promote and renew cooperation between Vietnam and Central Eastern European countries in the coming time.
Czech Ambassador to Vietnam Hynek Kmonicek said that both Vietnam and many Central Eastern European countries have experienced war, so they understand and admire Vietnam's strong will in the journey to gain independence and self-determination for their people. Over the decades, the spirit of solidarity has developed into a substantive partnership.
Ambassador Hynek Kmonicek emphasized the role of people-to-people exchanges, flexible visa policies and direct air connections as factors that bring substantial benefits to both sides.
Associate Professor, Dr. Huynh Quyet Thang, Director of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Chairman of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association proposed three long-term initiatives: Promoting people-to-people diplomacy through expanded friendship associations; establishing a university-research alliance between Vietnam and Central and Eastern European countries; and enhancing business cooperation in the fields of processing and creating added value from agricultural products, roses, pharmaceuticals, etc. "Opportunities are coming for both Vietnam and Central and Eastern European countries, we need to work very actively at the present time to achieve the desired future," Mr. Huynh Quyet Thang emphasized.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha with delegates. Photo: VNA
Sharing within the framework of the workshop, from the perspective of business and science, doctor, excellent physician Nguyen The Luong (Ha Thanh General Hospital) expressed his desire to bring advanced medical technologies from Central and Eastern European countries closer to Vietnamese people, not only to improve treatment efficiency, shorten the distance to access modern medicine, but also to gradually contribute to the process of improving professional capacity, proactively integrating and developing Vietnamese medicine according to international standards.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Trung, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Deputy General Director of Finance of FPT, said that as a major FDI investor in Europe, FPT hopes to receive support from Vietnamese partners in the region, especially diplomatic representatives of Eastern Europe in Vietnam.
Emphasizing the importance of sending business experts to Eastern Europe, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Trung expressed his wish that Central and Eastern European countries would facilitate the issuance of work visas quickly to meet the need to send experts as soon as possible.
On the sidelines of the Workshop, about 20 Vietnamese and Central Eastern European enterprises participated in organizing booths to display, introduce and promote agricultural and medical products to exchange and seek cooperation opportunities.
Viet Duc (Vietnam News Agency)
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/dua-quan-he-viet-nam-trung-dong-au-len-tam-cao-moi-huong-toi-tuong-lai-20250626205541127.htm
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