Overseas Vietnamese in the Czech Republic hope to have a direct flight between Prague and Hanoi

The proposal was raised by Mr. Pham Van Hien, Vice President of Vietnamese business associations in Europe, during the event Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with officials and employees of the Embassy and the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic on the evening of January 18 in the Czech Republic. capital city Prague.

According to Mr. Hien, the direct flight between Prague and Hanoi is an issue that overseas Vietnamese are very concerned about and that the business community is very concerned about. Each year, about 50,000 passengers fly between Vietnam and the Czech Republic, equivalent to an average of more than 4,000 passengers per month. However, the two countries do not have direct flights yet.

Vietnam has just waived visas for Czech citizens, a factor Mr. Hien considered a turning point to improve business relations and travel demand between the two countries. “The number of passengers will increase greatly and is a premise for direct flights,” a community representative stated, saying that such a move will contribute to enhancing trade, cultural, and educational exchanges between Vietnam and the country. Central Europe.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh supports this wish. He said “right on the flight to Prague, I also discussed with Vietnam Airlines leaders about traffic connections between Vietnam and the Czech Republic”. He also suggested that the national airline, before opening direct flights, could also study connecting flights from existing destinations in Europe such as Paris (France), Frankfurt and Munich (Germany).

According to the Prime Minister, this problem is not difficult and can be done. Previously, Bamboo Airways had planned and prepared to open a direct flight between Hanoi and Prague but had to postpone it due to the pandemic.

With other suggestions from the community, the Prime Minister said that the government will report and propose competent authorities to amend and supplement the Nationality Law, and discuss with the Vietnam Fatherland Front about the desire to organize the Nationality Day. Congress of National Solidarity in the Czech Republic.

Regarding this visit to the Czech Republic, the Prime Minister said there are two main goals: to elevate the relationship between the two countries to a strategic partnership and to kick off the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations. At the same time, Vietnam – Czech Republic will also promote cooperation in the fields of politics – diplomacy, trade – investment, culture and education and people-to-people exchanges.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Duong Hoai Nam, the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two sides have developed positively. Czech considers Vietnam a priority partner, gateway to the Asia-Pacific region.

Bilateral trade increased very rapidly, on average doubling every 5 years. In 2023, the import-export value of the two countries will reach 2.9 billion USD and increased to 3.3 billion USD last year.

“Education is a very potential field of cooperation. More and more Vietnamese students are coming to study in the Czech Republic because of the high European standards, the study duration is only 3 years, and the cost is more affordable than many other developed countries.” , Mr. Nam said.

The Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic currently has about 100,000 people. This is the third largest ethnic minority community in the Czech Republic and also the third largest Vietnamese community in Europe.

Also on January 18, the Prime Minister received President of the Communist Party of the Czech Republic – Moravia Katerina Konecna and Chairman of the Czech – Vietnam Friendship Association Milos Kusy.

Ms. Katerina Konecna said she will actively promote the friendship and cooperation between the two parties to become stronger and stronger. She also said that the achievements of the Vietnamese party and state are an example for the Czech-Morava Communist Party to study and follow.

At the friendship association meeting, Mr. Milos Kusy proposed that Vietnam coordinate with the Czech Republic to promote exchanges and create conditions for people to better understand each other’s country, people, and culture, including building China. Vietnamese cultural center in the Czech Republic.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said he would assign the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies to research and implement this idea.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is on an official visit to the Czech Republic at the invitation of Prime Minister Petr Fiala from January 18 to 20. This is the first official visit of the Prime Minister of Vietnam to this Central European country in 6 years.