Prime Minister successfully wraps up European tour

During the tour, Pham paid official visits to Poland and the Czech Republic and attended the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

This was the first high-level delegation exchange in 18 years between Viet Nam and Poland and in six years between Viet Nam and the Czech Republic, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang.

The visits took place at the time when Viet Nam and Poland, as well as the Czech Republic, prepare to celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. While Viet Nam and Switzerland are approaching the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2026. Poland recently assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union from January 1, 2025.

Prime Minister Pham's agenda was packed with over 30 talks and meetings, delivering policy speeches, attending business forums and the Spring Homeland program, and exploring several cultural, scientific and technological establishments in these nations.

Viet Nam and Poland issued a joint statement on advancing bilateral ties toward an upgrade of their relationship to a strategic partnership. Viet Nam and the Czech Republic issued a joint statement on elevating the bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. Viet Nam and Switzerland issued a joint statement on advancing their partnership.

There was a consensus among the countries to increase exchanges at various levels and through different channels, particularly through people-to-people exchanges, to raise mutual understanding and set the stage for expanded cooperation in other areas.

Leaders of the European nations spoke highly of Viet Nam's rising international stature, with the Czech Republic and Poland considering Viet Nam their most important partner in Asia.

The visits have invigorated cooperation in such traditional areas as trade, investment, tourism, education-training, national defence-security, culture, tourism, and labor, in line with the new partnership framework. They also expanded collaboration to other areas where both sides have potential and mutual needs, like digital transformation, green transition, information and communication technology, cybersecurity, pharmaceuticals, automotive industry, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and connectivity in aviation and rail transport.

Viet Nam, Poland and the Czech Republic agreed to further open their markets to each other's agricultural, seafood and food products within the framework of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). They promised to expedite the ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and accelerate negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between Viet Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Eight new cooperation agreements were signed to boost cooperation in the fields of diplomacy to labor, aviation, education, sports, and culture.

Ahead of the tour, Viet Nam had decided to waive visa requirements for citizens of these three countries in 2025.

On multilateral aspect, Prime Minister Pham and leaders of the three European countries agreed to strengthen mutual support at multilateral forums and organizations, and peacefully settle disputes in line with international laws and basic principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Regarding Viet Nam's participation in the 55th WEF Annual Meeting, the Deputy Foreign Minister said the Prime Minister engaged in discussions with several leading corporations during five key forums focused on areas including hi-tech, artificial intelligence (AI), pharmaceuticals, smart infrastructure, green energy and financial centre development.

The business community affirmed readiness to further expand investments in Viet Nam's priority areas, and pledged to accompany Viet Nam in developing financial center in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang./.