The visit takes place as Viet Nam and the Czech Republic celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties (1950–2025) and marks the practical implementation of the two governments’ agreement to upgrade relations to a Strategic Partnership in January 2025.
In his welcoming remarks, Nguyen Van Duoc expressed appreciation for the long-standing traditional friendship between Viet Nam and the Czech Republic.
The chairman emphasised that the Czech Republic is currently one of Viet Nam’s important partners in Europe, with two-way trade reaching over 2 billion USD per year. Many cooperation fields between the two countries are seeing positive progress, including manufacturing, environmental technology, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, education and training, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges.
Currently, around 100,000 Vietnamese people are living in the Czech Republic. Notably, the Czech Government has officially recognised the Czech community of Vietnamese origin as the country’s 14th ethnic minority group. This is vivid evidence of the deep friendship and strong integration between the two communities.
During the meeting with Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil, Chairman Nguyen Van Duoc affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City are ready to accompany Czech businesses in fields where the Czech Republic has strengths, while proposing additional cooperation in education and training; manufacturing and technical equipment; and environmental technology, and water and waste treatment.
He noted that these areas align with Ho Chi Minh City’s development orientation in the coming period.
The chairman also shared that, following recent administrative restructuring, the new Ho Chi Minh City is oriented to become a mega-city with significant potential and room for robust development. The city is also preparing to establish an International Financial Centre, creating opportunities for deeper and broader cooperation with international partners, especially from the Czech Republic.
The chairman also proposed that the Czech Embassy continues promoting activities introducing culture, products, and scientific-technological achievements of the Czech Republic to Viet Nam, thereby boosting the export of Czech goods to Viet Nam.
Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil affirmed that the traditional friendship between Viet Nam and the Czech Republic is built on the common foundations of love for peace and the aspiration for independence and freedom.
He noted that Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most dynamic and prosperous localities in Viet Nam, making it an attractive destination for Czech businesses seeking opportunities for investment, trade promotion, and increased import–export activities based on the traditional ties between the two countries. On this basis, he agreed with the proposals from Ho Chi Minh City’s leader to strengthen comprehensive cooperation in various fields.
Regarding environment and energy, both sides have identified goals to enhance cooperation in wastewater treatment, waste management, and the development of renewable energy, which are important issues, especially as climate change is increasingly affecting Viet Nam.
At the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue fostering cooperation, supporting each other, and promoting more substantive development in bilateral ties, contributing to deepening the Viet Nam–Czech Republic Strategic Partnership in the new period.
Chairman Nguyen Van Duoc expressed his belief that Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil’s visit will mark a new milestone in boosting cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Czech localities, towards deeper, broader, more effective and sustainable cooperation in various sectors.
In the same afternoon, Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil visited and delivered a talk to students at Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh City.
