Vietnamese PM to begin European tour to strengthen ties with Poland, Czechia, WEF this week
Vietnamese PM to begin European tour to strengthen ties with Poland, Czechia, WEF this week
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse will embark on an official visit to Poland and Czechia, followed by a business trip to Switzerland from January 15 to 23.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse, Le Thi Bich Tran, wave their hands during an official trip to Europe in January 2024. Photo: Vietnam Government Portal |
The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday that the trip is made at the invitation of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Poland and Czechia were among the first nations to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam in 1950 and remain long-standing friends of the Southeast Asian country.
PM Chinh’s visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of these relationships and is expected to enhance cooperation in trade, energy, and investment.
The top Vietnamese official and Polish President Andrzej Duda agreed to elevate bilateral ties in the upcoming time during their meeting at the WEF’s 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in the Chinese city of Dalian in June 2024.
The upcoming visit is expected to accelerate Poland’s ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and expand cooperation in renewable energy, tourism, and trade, where Vietnam is already Poland’s largest partner in Southeast Asia.
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| Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) meets Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), China, June 2024. Photo: Vietnam Government Portal |
In Czechia, which has ratified both the EVIPA and EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), leaders aim to strengthen ties further.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s 2023 visit to Vietnam set the stage for increased collaboration.
With a shared goal of achieving US$1 billion in trade, the two nations plan to leverage EVFTA to expand economic partnerships.
In Switzerland, PM Chinh will attend the 55th Annual Meeting of the WEF in Davos, themed ‘Cooperation in the Age of Intelligence.’
The event, held from January 20 to 24, will bring together global leaders to address key challenges, including economic growth, sustainability, and global trust.
The visit also reflects Vietnam’s growing presence on the international stage and PM Chinh’s close ties with Klaus Schwab, a long-time supporter of Vietnam’s development and leadership.
