General Secretary and President To Lam today received Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico at the Presidential Palace. To Lam emphasized that Vietnam always cherishes, remembers, and sincerely thanks the Slovak people for their valuable and effective material and spiritual assistance in the nation's construction, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

General Secretary and President To Lam receives Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Photo: Giang Huy

General Secretary and President To Lam receives Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Photo: Giang Huy

General Secretary and President To Lam stated that Vietnam consistently values and wishes to further deepen its relations with Slovakia. He also expressed satisfaction with the two countries upgrading their relationship to a Strategic Partnership.

Prime Minister Fico shared his special affection for Vietnam and its people. He expressed admiration for the heroic Vietnamese nation's struggle for national liberation and for Vietnam's dynamism in socio-economic development and international integration, particularly its sound foreign policy amidst current complex global developments.

The prime minister stated that Vietnam is a source of inspiration for Slovakia to learn from in terms of development, international, and regional integration. He emphasized that Slovakia consistently views Vietnam as its most important partner in Southeast Asia and one of its three largest partners in Asia.

The Slovak prime minister announced that his country will coordinate closely with Vietnam to immediately implement the agreements reached, especially in breakthrough areas such as: economy and trade, science and technology, defense and security, industry, renewable energy, tourism, high-tech agriculture, and AI.

General Secretary and President To Lam outlined several major orientations for both sides to implement, including enhancing political trust and making economic, trade, and investment cooperation a key pillar of their partnership.

Both sides focused on establishing "lighthouse" projects in areas such as the automotive industry, renewable energy, high technology, digital transformation, information technology, and high-quality human resource training. They also aimed to strengthen labor cooperation and expand local partnerships. The two nations should fully utilize their gateway positions to access the ASEAN and EU markets.

Discussing regional and international issues, both sides emphasized the importance of adhering to international law, respecting the United Nations Charter, and upholding fundamental principles of international relations. They committed to promoting the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect, thereby contributing to a peaceful, stable environment and fostering sustainable, prosperous development for all nations.

Vietnam and Slovakia underscored the importance of people-to-people exchanges, viewing them as a solid foundation and important driving force for enhancing mutual understanding, strengthening traditional friendship, and consolidating comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Fico and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung held talks this morning at the government headquarters. Following their meeting, they witnessed the signing of 6 cooperation documents between the two countries in various fields, including defense industry, diplomacy, culture, and nuclear energy. The two prime ministers also adopted a Joint Statement on upgrading Vietnam - Slovakia relations to a Strategic Partnership.

Vu Hoang