Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh review the guard of honour during the welcoming ceremony in Prague on January 20. (Photo: VGP)
In a solemn atmosphere, the Czech Prime Minister invited the Vietnamese Prime Minister to step up to the honored position, under the national flags of both countries, with bands playing the national anthems. Fial then invited Chinh to review the guard of honour.
Chinh’s official visit to the Czech Republic is of great significance, as it takes place at a time when the two countries are celebrating 75 years of their diplomatic ties.
This is the first visit to the Czech Republic by the Vietnamese Prime Minister since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is also the first visit by a foreign leader to the European country in the new year 2025.
The two PMs are expected to announce the upgrading of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during this visit, opening a new chapter to elevate the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries to a higher, broader, more substantial, and effective level.
During this visit, the two sides will exchange measures to further deepen bilateral cooperation in areas such as politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, science-technology, innovation, education, culture, sports, tourism, labour, sustainable development, and people-to-people exchanges.
Both sides are expected to sign several documents to promote bilateral cooperation in education, sports, and other areas. They will continue discussions on the possibility of opening direct air routes between the two countries, and explore the establishment of cultural centers in each country to boost trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.