Ho Chi Minh City celebrates 33rd anniversary of Slovakia's National Day, aiming to promote bilateral cooperation

On August 29, the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (HCMC) and the Vietnam - Slovakia Friendship Association of HCMC held a meeting to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of Slovakia's National Day (September 1, 1992 - September 1, 2025).

According to information from the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations, speaking at the meeting, Mr. Bui Quang Hai, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam - Slovakia Friendship Association, thanked the former Czechoslovakia and the present-day Slovak Republic for training tens of thousands of Vietnamese citizens, including many members of the Association. Many of them, after returning, have held important positions in Vietnam.

Mr. Bui Quang Hai (right), Chairman of the Vietnam - Slovakia Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City, presented flowers to the Chargé d'Affaires of the Republic of Slovakia in Vietnam, Marian Veres, to congratulate Slovakia on its National Day. (Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Women's Newspaper)

He emphasized that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have been continuously maintained effectively, and bilateral trade has grown significantly. According to data from the General Statistics Office of Slovakia, two-way import-export turnover in 2024 will reach about 4.7 billion EUR, compared to 1 billion EUR in 2020, but is still not commensurate with the potential for cooperation.

Mr. Bui Quang Hai said that from August 15, 2025, Vietnam has unilaterally exempted entry visas for citizens of 12 EU member countries, including Slovakia. He expressed his hope that the Slovakian Government will soon have a more favorable policy in granting visas to Vietnamese citizens, especially those who have studied and worked in Slovakia.

He also affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City is home to a large number of people who are closely associated with Slovakia. The Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam - Slovakia Friendship Association has over the past 10 years actively contributed to strengthening and developing people-to-people relations between the two countries, as well as between Ho Chi Minh City and the cities of Bratislava and Kosice.

At the event, Mr. Marian Veres, Chargé d'Affaires of the Slovak Republic in Vietnam, emphasized that in 2025, the two countries will celebrate the 75th anniversary (1950-2025) of establishing diplomatic relations. He highly appreciated the traditional friendship that has continuously developed over the past 75 years in many fields.

He added that many cultural and artistic activities will take place in Vietnam on this occasion, including a tour by the Šarišan folk art troupe, a documentary screening about the king of Pop-Art Andy Warhol and a photo exhibition "Parta in the 21st century" introducing traditional Slovak culture.

He also said that Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is expected to visit Vietnam later this year. The visit is expected to elevate bilateral relations and expand cooperation in many areas. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by a large business delegation, and a Vietnam-Slovakia business forum will be held in Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/tphcm-ky-niem-33-nam-quoc-khanh-slovakia-huong-toi-thuc-day-hop-tac-song-phuong-215947.html