The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (HUFO) held a meeting on October 23 to celebrate the 102nd Independence Day of the Czech Republic along with 70 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations, thereby demonstrating solidarity between Ho Chi Minh City and the Czech people.

Lukas Musil, deputy ambassador of the Czech Republic
to Vietnam speaks at the event (Photo:VNA)

During his speech, Nguyen Muoi, chairman of the Vietnam-Czech Republic Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City, said that both countries have long-standing traditional ties. Recent decades has seen the friendship go through many fluctuations in the global landscape and consistently be preserved and developed.

The Vietnamese people have always remembered the valuable material and spiritual support of both the people and Government of the former Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic, during previous struggles for national liberation, as well as in helping in the cause of national construction and defence.

Recent years has witnessed traditional ties and multifaceted co-operation between both sides enjoy strong progress in terms of bilateral and multilateral aspects, with last year’s two-way trade turnover reaching a figure of approximately US$1.2 billion.

Despite the negative impact caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, bilateral trade this year is anticipated to enjoy a surge of 30% over the same period from last year. Indeed, the Czech Republic is in the process of investing in 35 projects with total capital of around US$100 million.

Muoi went on to affirm that the Vietnam-Czech Republic Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City is highly appreciative of the support given by the Czech Embassy in Vietnam. As such, the chairman of tthe group pledged that the association will put forward its best efforts in order to serve as a friendship bridge that can connect citizens of the two countries and promote all-around co-operation.

Lukas Musil, deputy ambassador of the Czech Republic to Vietnam, speaking on behalf of the leaders of the Czech Embassy, expressed his thanks for the sentiment and respect shown by Vietnamese friends in Ho Chi Minh City as part of tribute’s the Central European nation’s Independence Day. Musil noted that these activities will positively contribute to deepening mutual understanding, reinforce solidarity, and boost traditional friendship between the people of the two countries.

Furthermore, Musil thanked the people, the Government of Vietnam, and the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic for uniting with the government and people of the Czech Republic in the recent fight against COVID-19.

Due to the complicated situation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, some co-operation schemes that have been planned for this year to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties have yet to be conducted, the Czech official said. Despite this, once conditions allow in the future, the Czech Republic and Vietnam will implement programmes that were delayed due to COVID-19, such as launching state level visits by leaders of the Czech Republic and opening direct flights between Hanoi and Prague.

Moreover, Musil affirmed the Czech Republic’s recognition of the import role of Ho Chi Minh City, especially in terms of economic development co-operation.

In the near future, the Czech Republic will soon implement the establishment of a Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City in order to promote economic and cultural co-operation activities, support consular work, whilst boosting citizen diplomacy in the southern city and in neighbouring Vietnamese localities, he added.