Vietnam, Czech Republic look back on 65 years of relations

In 1950, the former Czechoslovakia was among the first ten countries to establish diplomatic ties with the then Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

In 2013, the Czech Republic was the first European nation to recognise their overseas Vietnamese population as an ethnic minority. This milestone decision placed the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic on an equal footing with local Czech citizens.

The Czech Republic has maintained its regular Official Development Assistance (ODA) grant to Vietnam, with the total amount since 1995 reaching roughly 18 million USD. Two-way trade turnover annually is estimated at 300 million USD with investors from both countries actively seeking further business opportunities.

Education is also an important area of cooperation between the two nations with many Vietnamese students and researchers receiving scholarships to study in the Czech Republic each year. Cultural exchanges are held on a regular basis to promote understanding between the two countries.

At present, around 60,000 Vietnamese people are residing in the Czech Republic, making notable contributions to the development of Czech society. Achievements over the past 65 years have laid the foundations for a future of even closer friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the Czech Republic.