Vietnam–Slovakia upgrade relations to a strategic partnership

Vietnam–Slovakia upgrade relations to a strategic partnership. On the morning of 13 April, at the Government Office, after successful talks, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico held a joint press conference to announce the results of the talks. In the press briefing, before officials from both countries and the media, representing the Government and the people of Vietnam, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung warmly welcomed Prime Minister Robert Fico and the senior delegation of the Slovak Republic on their official visit to Vietnam. PM Le Minh Hung stated that the visit took place in a context of special importance, immediately after Vietnam completed its leadership apparatus. This is the first guest prime minister hosted by the new administration, and the first EU leader to visit Vietnam since Vietnam and the EU upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The visit demonstrates the high regard and friendship, trust between the two countries. In a sincere atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding, the two Prime Ministers held talks and reached broad consensus on many aspects through the Joint Declaration upgrading the Vietnam–Slovakia relationship to a Strategic Partnership. Both sides agreed to direct the Foreign Ministry to promptly develop an Action Plan to implement the new framework, aiming to bring substantive changes in bilateral cooperation that benefit the people and businesses of both nations. During the visit, ministries, sectors, localities, and enterprises from both sides signed and exchanged 16 cooperation documents across areas including politics–diplomacy, defense, culture, nuclear energy, quality standards, local cooperation, security, health, tourism, and shipbuilding. The two Prime Ministers agreed to advance key measures such as strengthening political trust; driving changes in economic, trade, and investment cooperation; expanding defense–security collaboration; broadening cooperation in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation; and enhancing education–training, labor, people-to-people exchange, culture, and tourism cooperation. PM Le Minh Hung thanked Slovakia for recognizing the Vietnamese community as the 14th ethnic minority, creating a legal basis for the community to settle, integrate, and contribute to the friendship between the two countries. At the press conference, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed gratitude for the warm reception by Vietnam; he highly appreciated the frank, constructive, and effective talks. Recalling his 2016 visit to Vietnam, he voiced admiration for Vietnam’s development achievements and its future development orientation. He affirmed that Vietnam is Slovakia’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, and that economic and trade cooperation between the two countries still has significant room to grow. The two sides agreed to promote comprehensive cooperation, especially in economy and trade, commensurate with the new framework and the Vietnam–EU relationship. Slovakia is ready to cooperate with Vietnam in areas such as nuclear energy, defense industry, finance, and education–training; they also expect to promote tourism cooperation and establish direct flights between the two countries. Expressing alignment with Vietnam’s positions on international issues of mutual concern, the Slovak Prime Minister invited Prime Minister Le Minh Hung to visit Slovakia officially soon and to increase high-level exchanges to advance cooperation for the common interests of both countries and for peace and development of the region and the world. PM Le Minh Hung chaired the ceremony welcoming the Slovak Prime Minister on his official visit to Vietnam. 12:43, 13/04/2026