President Tran Dai Quang and Slovakian Ambassador Igor Pacolak

Mr. Quang described Slovakian Ambassador Igor Pacolak’s tenure in Vietnam as one of the important factors for growing friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries.

He urged Slovakia to continue supporting and fostering the comprehensive cooperative partnership between Vietnam and the European Union (EU), prompt the early signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and recognize Vietnam as a market economy. Vietnam is ready to assist Slovakia in boosting ties with ASEAN, he said, promising all possible support for Slovakian firms to seek business opportunities in the country.

Pacolak said during his tenure in Vietnam, the two countries have seen more than 30 visits from the deputy ministerial level upwards and signed about 20 cooperation agreements.

President Tran Dai Quang and Austrian Ambassador Thomas Loidl

Receiving Austrian Ambassador Thomas Loidl, President Quang lauded his efforts to step up bilateral ties and introduce many Austrian businesses to Vietnam. Mr. Quang cited the 2016 two-way trade value of 2.8 billion USD, which was 10 percent more than 2015.

Ambassador Thomas Loidl stressed that Austria has over the past 45 years proved itself as a very reliable partner of Vietnam.