President welcomes Slovak Deputy PM

President Tran Dai Quang hosted a reception for visiting Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, during which he expressed his delight at the growing ties between the two countries in all fields, including politics, diplomacy, trade and investment, as well as at bilateral and international forums.

President Tran Dai Quang (right) receives Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini
President Tran Dai Quang (right) receives Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini

He noted that the years of 2016 and 2017 marked a breakthrough in the progress in bilateral relations, with the visit to Vietnam maded by Slovak Prime Minister Reobert Fico and the Slovakia trip by Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue.

The President expressed his belief that with a series of signed agreements, the relations between the two sides would enter a new flourishing stage.

Holding that two-way trade has yet to meet expectations, he proposed that the two countries enhance the efficiency of the Inter-Governmental Committee on economic cooperation, while increasing exchanges among ministries, sectors, localities and businesses, thus promoting trade and investment collaboration.

Quang also suggested that the two sides work closely to implement the signed agreements, consider the resumption of cooperation in labour, and strengthen their affiliation in education and training.

He pledged to create optimal conditions for Slovak firms to invest in Vietnam, especially in energy, infrastructure, environmental protection and food safety.

He also thanked the Slovak Government for supporting the Vietnamese community in the country.

On the occasion, he invited President Andrej Kiska to visit Vietnam.

For his part, Slovak Deputy PM Pellegrini said that he and his entourage had fruitful working sessions with leaders of the Vietnamese Government, ministries and sectors, which are expected to lay the foundation for the growth of Slovakia-Vietnam relations in the future, not only in politics but also in economic cooperation, trade and investment.

Slovakia will provide the safest and most favourable conditions to foreign investors, including those from Vietnam, he said, expressing his hope that Slovakia would become a gateway for Vietnamese products to enter the European market.

He said that in the time ahead, Slovakia will appoint Le Hong Quang, who is the current Charge d’affaires of Slovakia to Vietnam, as the ambassador to Vietnam.

Pellegrini also vowed that the Slovak Government will provide the best conditions for Vietnamese citizens living in the country.

He told his host that on the occasion of Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue’s visit to Slovakia in September this year, the Slovak Government built and inaugurated a bronze plate in Home Saliby town, of Trnava province, where President Ho Chi Minh visited 60 years ago.