Slovak Prime Minister’s visit to Vietnam: Advancing relations to new heights, creating momentum for deeper cooperation
WVR - On the occasion of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's official visit to Vietnam, Vietnamese Ambassador to Slovakia Pham Truong Giang shared with The World and Vietnam Report the significance and key highlights of the visit.
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Ambassador, could you elaborate on the significance and key focuses of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's visit to Vietnam?
At the invitation of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is making an official visit to Vietnam from April 12-14. This marks his third official visit to Vietnam following his visits in 2008 and 2016 as the head of the Slovak government. It is the first foreign government delegation to visit Vietnam after the completion of our organizational structure following the 14th National Party Congress, marking a new phase after more than 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1950). It also opens up opportunities for more substantive cooperation following previous high-level visits, based on the need to strengthen cooperation and high political trust between the two sides.
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| Vietnam's Ambassador to Slovakia Pham Truong Giang. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Slovakia) |
The visit also reflects positive outcomes in the exchange of delegations, such as the visit of Vietnam's Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang to Slovakia in September 2025 and Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Robert Kalinak's visit to Vietnam in November 2025.
Previously, at Slovakia's request, Vietnam implemented a visa exemption policy for Slovak citizens for 45 days (effective from August 15, 2025, to August 14, 2028, along with 11 other European countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Switzerland).
This visit reaffirms Slovakia's focus on promoting a "multi-directional" foreign policy, diversifying relations with regions outside the EU, particularly with Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific; it carries high expectations for orienting and upgrading bilateral relations towards a comprehensive, sustainable strategic partnership.
The key focuses of the visit include: (i) Considering upgrading Vietnam-Slovakia relations to a Strategic Partnership; enhancing bilateral political trust; (ii) discussing measures to promote more substantive cooperation commitments in various fields where both countries have potential and mutual interest, such as economy-trade, investment, defense-security, science-technology, energy (renewable and nuclear), culture-tourism, education-training, labor, green transition, digital transformation; (iii) exchanging support for each other in multilateral mechanisms, addressing regional and international issues of mutual concern, with a focus on ASEAN-EU cooperation.
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| Deputy Foreign Minister Ngo Le Van and Slovak State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Marek Estok co-chaired the Vietnam-Slovakia Deputy Foreign Minister-level Political Consultation in July 2025. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, when receiving the Ambassador last year, emphasized that Slovakia considers Vietnam a top important partner in Asia and plays a crucial role in ASEAN; he also expressed a desire to upgrade relations with Vietnam. How does the Ambassador assess Vietnam's position in Slovakia's overall development policy and the promising areas of cooperation between the two countries?
In meetings, Minister Blanár repeatedly affirmed that Slovakia considers Vietnam one of its top important partners in Asia and highly values Vietnam's role in ASEAN. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico appreciates Vietnam's political stability, consistent foreign policy, independent autonomy, as well as its socio-economic achievements. Many government members, parliamentarians, and local authorities also express their affection for Vietnam and support the promotion of bilateral relations.
In the context of the current complex energy crisis, economic challenges, and conflicts, Vietnam is an important partner in Slovakia's strategy towards the Asia-Pacific and its Eastward policy, aiming to diversify partners outside the EU to expand markets. Prime Minister Fico prioritizes Vietnam (along with ASEAN and China) in foreign policy to strengthen economic-trade and technological relations with the Asian region.
Vietnam has the potential to become an important bridge for Slovakia to access the ASEAN market and supply chains in Asia; conversely, Slovakia still has much potential to help Vietnam access and transit goods, transfer technology with the European market. Vietnam is Slovakia's third-largest trading partner in Asia (after China and South Korea); meanwhile, Slovakia is Vietnam's second-largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe.
Both countries have the need and potential to expand cooperation in key areas such as science-technology, renewable energy and green transition, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, defense-security, culture-tourism, and education...
During the visit of Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Robert Kalinak to Vietnam (November 2025), General Secretary, President To Lam (then General Secretary) oriented the economy and science-technology to become pillars in bilateral relations. How has this effort been promoted, and what are the opportunities and challenges, Ambassador?
Science and technology serving socio-economic development is a crucial driver in Vietnam's national development policies and is also an important development orientation in Slovakia's policy. It can be said that the orientation of the high-level leaders of the two countries has created new momentum, paving the way for deeper bilateral cooperation.
Both sides have been striving to promote bilateral dialogue mechanisms, resume meetings of the intergovernmental committee to identify cooperation priorities that can effectively leverage each country's potential. The Slovak government has expressed goodwill and readiness to expand multi-sectoral cooperation with Vietnam. Both sides expect to achieve more substantive and specific results following the visit.
Over the decades, Vietnam has experienced high economic growth, with a significant demand for high technology, digital transformation, and modernization of defense-security; while Slovakia possesses advanced technology in precision mechanics, defense industry, energy (especially nuclear energy safety experience), automation, and certain areas of cybersecurity technology. The two countries have great potential for cooperation in technology transfer, joint application research, human resource training, and participation in the global supply chain for clean energy and digital technology.
However, the scale and level of scientific and technological cooperation remain modest, with few large, specific projects or deep investments; businesses still have limited understanding of each other's markets. Additionally, Vietnam needs to update and upgrade its logistics and maintenance systems appropriately when receiving new technology; issues such as geopolitical competition, control of sensitive technology exports, and high EU standards are also matters that both sides need to have regular, thorough exchange mechanisms to effectively exploit the potential for economic and scientific-technological cooperation between the two countries.
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| Vietnam's Ambassador to Slovakia Pham Truong Giang meets Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar in May 2025. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Slovakia) |
The Vietnamese community has been recognized as the 14th ethnic minority community in Slovakia. Could the Ambassador elaborate on the community's role as a bridge to promote cooperation and connection between the two countries?
On June 7, 2023, the Slovak government officially recognized the Vietnamese community as the 14th ethnic minority, a dynamic community known for its hardworking nature and increasing positive integration; with the first generation having worked, studied, and lived here for nearly 70 years, now reaching the third generation. This is the second Vietnamese community in the world (after the community in the Czech Republic) to be officially recognized as an ethnic minority. This recognition has strengthened the community's legal status, laying the groundwork for deeper integration into all aspects of local life and society. Currently, some young Vietnamese individuals are recognized for their positive influence in various business and social activities in Slovakia.
The Vietnamese community in Slovakia serves as an important bridge helping the two countries understand each other better and promoting substantive cooperation. The community has deeply integrated into Slovak society, actively preserving and promoting Vietnamese cultural identity through cultural activities and annual festivals (such as the Community Tet, Vietnam Culture Day, "Viet Phuc Bo Hanh" parade...); simultaneously participating actively in events organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in Slovakia with the presence of local ministry/sector/government representatives, contributing to strengthening the traditional friendship between the two countries and positively promoting the cultural identity, people, and image of Vietnam as a reliable partner.
Thank you, Ambassador!
