State President visits Czech Republic

This is the first trip by a Vietnamese state leader to the Czech Republic since 1958. The visit is being undertaken with the aim of consolidating bilateral cooperation.

To celebrate 65 years of diplomatic relations this year, the two presidents agreed to hold a series of events including photo exhibitions, film screenings and art troupe exchanges. They said economic-trade and investment links should do more to meet their potential, especially in trade, infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, mechanical engineering, construction materials and food processing, among others. The leader also vowed to push for the signing of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement, while simultaneously recognising Vietnam as a market economy. Further, both sides aim to boost links across education, defence and security, science and technology, culture, sports, tourism and transport.