Fostering traditional friendship between Vietnam and Slovakia
WVR - On the evening of April 12, in Hanoi, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam-Slovakia Friendship Association organized a cordial meeting between the Slovak Government delegation and representatives of the Vietnamese community who cherish Slovakia and its people.
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The meeting was held on the occasion of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and the Slovak Government delegation's official visit to Vietnam from April 12-14. It aimed to honor the contributions of generations of Vietnamese officials who studied in Slovakia and to set a vision for people-to-people cooperation in the new development phase.
The Slovak Government delegation included Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanár; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Richard Takáč; Minister of Finance Ladislav Kamenický; along with representatives from the Slovak Embassy in Vietnam.
On the Vietnamese side, there were Chairman of the Vietnam-Slovakia Friendship Association Le Quang Hung, leaders of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, and representatives of the Vietnamese community who cherish Slovakia and its people.
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| Chairman of the Vietnam-Slovakia Friendship Association Le Quang Hung speaking. (Source: Quan doi Nhan dan Newspaper) |
In his speech, Le Quang Hung, Chairman of the Vietnam-Slovakia Friendship Association, emotionally recalled the more than 75 years of traditional friendship between the two countries.
He emphasized that the Vietnamese people always remember the “sincere and heartfelt assistance” from the Slovak Government and people during the most challenging years of the struggle for independence and nation-building.
Le Quang Hung affirmed that the nearly 4,000 engineers, 7,000 skilled workers, and 20,000 Vietnamese labourers who worked in Slovakia are a “precious spiritual asset,” contributing positively to maintaining and developing the friendship between the peoples of the two countries today and in the future.
He respectfully requested the Slovak Government to promote the establishment of a Friendship Association with Vietnam in Slovakia to develop more substantial people-to-people exchanges. “This will provide favorable conditions for both sides to coordinate regularly and effectively, in line with the increasing potential and demand for cooperation,” he stated.
For its part, the Vietnam-Slovakia Friendship Association will continue to play a key role in people-to-people diplomacy, proactively and actively contributing to strengthening traditional friendship, expanding cooperation, and enhancing mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries, for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Slovak people, for peace, cooperation, and development.
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| Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanár expressed confidence in the potential for developing trade relations and friendship between the two countries. (Photo: Yen Vi) |
With the solid foundation of friendship built and nurtured over many years, along with the attention of the leaders of the two countries and the joint efforts of agencies, organizations, and people on both sides, Le Quang Hung is confident that Vietnam-Slovakia relations will continue to develop more positively, substantively, and effectively in the future.
On behalf of the Slovak Government delegation, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanár expressed appreciation for the warm sentiments from Vietnamese friends.
The Minister highlighted important historical milestones and affirmed Vietnam's position in Slovakia's foreign policy: “Today, Vietnam is Slovakia's largest trading partner in Southeast Asia and the third largest in Asia. We are very proud that in 2023, the Slovak Government officially recognized the Vietnamese community as the 14th ethnic minority of the country. This demonstrates your contribution and successful integration into our society.”
Recalling memories of outstanding Vietnamese students at the University of Žilina (where many students have become leading professors and scientists), Minister Juraj Blanár affirmed that the mission assigned by Prime Minister Robert Fico to the delegation this time is to elevate economic and cultural relations to a new level.
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| Le Quang Hung, Chairman of the Vietnam-Slovakia Friendship Association, presents a souvenir to Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanár. (Photo: Yen Vi) |
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| Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, presents a souvenir to Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanár. (Photo: Yen Vi) |
The Minister also expressed support for the idea of establishing a Friendship Association in Slovakia: “We are fully confident that this idea will soon become a reality, as there is a strong Vietnamese community in Slovakia and many Slovakians who love Vietnam.”
The meeting concluded in a warm atmosphere of camaraderie and brotherhood. The event once again affirmed that despite geographical distance, the bond between the peoples of the two countries remains strong.
The visit of Prime Minister Robert Fico and the commitments to people-to-people exchanges are expected to open a new chapter full of energy and momentum for the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.
