A high-ranking delegation of the National Assembly (NA) led by its Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong paid a working visit to Poland from March 27-30, after they attended the 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-148) in Switzerland, VNA reported.

On the occasion of attending the 148th General Assembly of the Parliamentary Union in Switzerland, on March 25, NA Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong, and the Vietnamese National Assembly delegation had a working session with the President of the Grand Council of the Swiss canton of Bern Dominique Buhler, Secretary General of the Grand Council Patrick Trees and Bern Mayor Alec von Graffenried.

On the same day, the delegation visited and worked with officials of the Vietnamese Embassy in Switzerland.

Phuong had bilateral talks and meetings with Deputy Marshal of the Sejm (lower house) Krzysztof Bosak, Deputy Senate Marshal Michał Kamiński, and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski.

This is also an activity to prepare for the event marking 75 years of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Poland (1950-2025).

The meeting between the Vietnamese NA delegation and Deputy Marshal of the Sejm (lower house) Krzysztof Bosak. Photo: daibieunhandan.vn

Speaking at the meetings, Phuong stressed that political and diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Poland are developing well, and economic-trade cooperation has been maintained, citing the fact that Vietnam is Poland’s largest trade partner in Southeast Asia, and Poland is Vietnam's priority partner in Central Eastern Europe.

Despite being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has continued to maintain growth momentum in the past two years.

Vietnam always values its good traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Poland, he affirmed, proposing the two sides continue to increase contact; maintain the exchange of high-level delegations of parliamentary leaders as well as agencies, friendship parliamentarians’ groups; and coordinate in supervising and promoting the effective implementation of cooperation agreements between the two countries’ governments, ministries and localities.

Phuong urged Poland to soon ratify the European Union – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), advocate for the European Commission (EC)'s removal of its "yellow card" warning against Vietnamese seafood, and maintain contact, consultation, coordination, and mutual support at multilateral parliamentary forums as well as on regional and world issues of mutual concern.

He also proposed the two countries consider the possibility of resuming flights between Poland and Vietnam to promote bilateral trade and tourism.

The two Polish parliamentary leaders affirmed that delegation exchanges between the two parliaments contribute to strengthening traditional friendship and collaboration between the two countries. They also appreciated contributions by the Vietnamese community in Poland.

NA Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong (R) meets Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski. Photo: daibieunhandan.vn

Meeting Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski, the Vietnamese NA Vice Chairman stressed that science and innovation are potential fields for the two countries to promote bilateral cooperation in the coming time.

Vietnam is willing to further expand cooperation to enhance learning about science, technology, and research in Poland, he added.

The host affirmed that several Polish groups in the digital sector want to introduce their digital products to Vietnam, helping the country develop digital technology.

Within the framework of the visit, the NA delegation had a meeting with the Poland-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, received representatives from the Poland-Vietnam Friendship Association, visited the Vietnamese Embassy, and met representatives of the Vietnamese community in Poland. There are around 35,000 Vietnamese residing in Poland.

NA Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong proposed that Poland continue to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Poland to stabilize their lives and make more contributions to the socio-economic development of Poland as well as the good traditional friendship between the two peoples.

On the Polish side, both the NA and the Polish Government committed to continue creating conditions for the Vietnamese community to live stably, long-term, and legally in Poland, contributing to strengthening the friendship between the two countries.