Hanoi strengthens ties with Czech localities and businesses
The visit spotlighted Hanoi’s intent to boost public-sector cooperation, leverage Czech technological strengths, and support the integration of its overseas Vietnamese community.
THE HANOI TIMES — A delegation from the Hanoi People's Council, led by Vice Chairwoman Phung Thi Hong Ha, completed a four-day working visit to the Czech Republic on April 16-19 to deepen ties in the areas of infrastructure, health care, and intermunicipal relations.
Phung Thi Hong Ha, Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Council, and Bohuslav Svoboda, mayor of Prague. Photo: Ngoc Long/VNA correspondent in the Czech Republic
In Prague, Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda welcomed the delegation and praised the Vietnamese community as the largest and most cohesive foreign group in the city. He recalled the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when members of the Vietnamese Women's Association donated thousands of handmade face masks to local residents, a gesture he said left a lasting impression of trust and solidarity.
Vice Chairwoman Ha thanked the Czech Republic for its long-standing support and urged continued efforts to help the Vietnamese community further integrate into local society and grow.
In Brno, the capital of the South Moravian Region, the delegation met with Vojtech Filip, former Deputy Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies and current representative of the Regional Council. Filip emphasized the potential for cooperation in areas where the region has technical strengths, including glass bottle manufacturing, water treatment, sanitation technologies, and hospital bed production. He also shared his strong admiration for Hanoi, describing it as a city that "leaves a deep and lasting impression.
The delegation also met with representatives from Škoda Auto, one of the Czech Republic’s leading automotive companies. Hanoi officials presented major infrastructure initiatives, including elevated railways and metro lines, inviting potential collaboration. Company executives responded with keen interest in supporting Hanoi's efforts to modernize public transport and improve urban mobility.
In the western town of Cheb, known for its significant Vietnamese population, Hanoi delegates engaged in discussions with Vice Mayors Michal Pospíšil and Pavel Pagáč. Talks focused on local governance, economic development, and cultural exchange. Both sides expressed a shared commitment to enhancing cooperation in workforce training, education, and the preservation of traditional cultural values.
The delegation’s visit highlighted the dynamic and evolving relationship between Vietnam and the Czech Republic, built on mutual respect, cultural exchange, and shared goals for development.
