Vietnam and Slovakia have elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership, marking a significant step forward in bilateral ties.
A Joint Statement to this effect was issued following talks between Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico in Hanoi on April 13.
The Slovak Prime Minister is on an official visit to Vietnam between April 12-14 as the first foreign guest of Vietnam's newly-elected Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.
The two Prime Ministers agreed to task their respective Foreign Ministries to promptly develop a plan of action to implement the newly-established strategic partnership framework in a bid to create substantial changes in the quality of bilateral cooperation.
At a joint press briefing following the talks, PM Hung noted that Prime Minister Robert Fico's visit takes place at a particularly significant moment, shortly after Vietnam completed the consolidation of its key leadership apparatus. He stressed that PM Fico is the first foreign guest he has received in his capacity as the Government leader, and also the first high-ranking leader from the European Union to visit Vietnam following the elevation of Vietnam–EU relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He emphasised that the visit serves as a vivid testament to the importance that PM Fico personally and the Government of Slovakia attach to Vietnam, reflecting the longstanding, close, sincere, and trustworthy friendship between the two countries.
PM Hung expressed his belief that, with strong political determination from both governments and the joint efforts of businesses and people of the two countries, the Vietnam–Slovakia Strategic Partnership will bring prosperity to both nations and contribute positively to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world.
PM Fico, for his part, noted that the two sides held frank and constructive discussions.
Recalling his visit to Vietnam in 2016, the Slovak PM expressed deep admiration for the country’s remarkable progress and significant achievements in recent years. He congratulated Vietnam on the outcomes of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which outlined key development strategies, notably the shift from quantity-based to quality-driven growth.
He highlighted the sound development of Vietnam – Slovakia relations on the basis of mutual benefit, emphasising that Vietnam is not only a friend but also Slovakia’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia. However, he noted that economic and trade cooperation has yet to match its full potential. Therefore, both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation across all fields, particularly in economy and trade, in line with their newly upgraded Strategic Partnership as well as the Vietnam – EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
PM Fico said that a large Slovak business delegation is accompanying him on this visit and will attend the Vietnam – Slovakia Business Forum. The two countries' governments are committed to supporting enterprises in expanding cooperation, investment and business activities, translating political commitments into concrete outcomes.
Slovakia is ready to enhance cooperation and share expertise with Vietnam in priority areas such as nuclear energy, defence industry, finance and education-training. He also noted Slovak citizens’ strong interest in travelling to Vietnam, and thanked Vietnam for granting visa exemptions for Slovak nationals, while expressing his hope for the establishment of direct flights to further boost tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
On the occasion, the two sides signed 16 cooperation agreements across the fields of politics-diplomacy, national defense, culture, nuclear energy, standards and metrology, local-level cooperation, security, healthcare, tourism, and shipbuilding.
These agreements include a Memorandum of Understanding between the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense and the Slovak Ministry of Defense on cooperation in the defence industry; a Memorandum of Understanding between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Slovak Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs; and a Memorandum of Understanding on cultural cooperation for the 2026–2030 period between the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Slovak Ministry of Culture.
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