(VOVworld) – President Truong Tan Sang and the Vietnamese delegation left Prague on Wednesday for Vietnam after a state visit to the Czech Republic.

Earlier, he held talks with Prime Minister Bohuslas Sobotka, received the Vice President of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee Jan Zahradil, laid a wreath at the Vitko national memorial, and visited the Czech National Museum of History. He assured the Czech Prime Minister of Vietnam’s foreign policy of openness and multilateralizing and diversifying international relations, which values its relations with traditional friends in central and eastern Europe including the Czech Republic. He expressed his delight at the development of bilateral ties, particularly in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, and investment. President Sang pledged favorable conditions for Czech investment in a number of areas in Vietnam including energy, telecommunications, public transportation, agricultural machinery manufacturing, electrical and medical devices, construction materials, crystal production, and food processing. He proposed that the Czech government consider granting ODA for certain projects in the environment, forest plantation, waste treatment, water supply and drainage, public healthcare, health insurance reform, and hospital construction.

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka described President Sang’s visit as an important milestone in the two countries’ multifaceted cooperation, particularly as this year marks the 65^th anniversary of their bilateral diplomatic ties. He said that Vietnam is the Czech Republic’s priority partner in Southeast Asia, adding that as a reliable partner of Vietnam, the Czech Republic supports Vietnam in fostering ties with the EU, through its ratification of the Vietnam-EU Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). He said that his country is ready to help promote the EU’s ratification of the PCA and the early completion and signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

He told the Vice President of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee Jan Zahradil that the European Union is always one of Vietnam’s leading trade partners. He praised Zahradil’s goodwill and active role in supporting Vietnam to accelerate negotiations for the EU-Vietnam FTA. President Sang asked him to continue promoting the signing of the EU-Vietnam FTA and the PCA as well as the EU’s recognition of Vietnam’s market economy status.