Vietnam is a safe and attractive destination for all foreign investors and international tourists, stated President Truong Tan Sang at the Vietnam Economy-Tourism Cooperation Forum held in Prague on May 11.

The event, which was organised by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry from Vietnam, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, was also attended by Czech President Milos Zeman.

Addressing an audience of 500 companies from Vietnam, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary, President Sang said a number of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, including the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement ( EVFTA), are expected to be signed between Vietnam and other nations in the near future, which will lay the foundation for promoting trade-investment-tourism activities between Vietnam and other countries in the region and the world.

With a population of 90 million and a significant share of the 500-million-strong Southeast Asian market, Vietnam offers investors many incentive policies, he confirmed.

President Sang also believed that a large number amounting to tens of thousands of Vietnamese who used to study in the Czech Republic and Slovakia would serve as a bridge for friendship, trade and investment cooperation among the three countries.

Czech President Milos Zeman said strengthening the traditional relationship between the two countries is the basis for boosting cooperation in economics, trade, investment and tourism.

He also highlighted the successful integration of Vietnamese community into the Czech society where they are recognised as the 14th ethnic minority.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh recommended measures to increase the number of tourists and promote tourism investment and business between Vietnam and the Czech Republic, including boosting tourism at all levels, improving visa policies, and increasing coordination in market research and development of tourism products.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Jiri Havlicek said the economic relationship between Vietnam and the Czech Republic has developed strongly over the past years with the trade volume surpassing the 500 million USD mark in 2013.

As of the end of 2014, the Czech Republic had 36 investment projects in Vietnam with a combined investment capital of 64 million USD focusing on garments and textiles, food processing, mechanical manufacturing, building materials and mining, according to the Deputy Minister.

Havlicek also highlighted cooperation prospects between the two countries in a number of sectors such as energy, infrastructure, transport vehicles and defence industry and health equipment.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese and Czech Presidents witnessed the signing of documents on cooperation between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and two Czech partners and between the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) and the bank Eximbanka of Slovakia and CEB of the Czech Republic.

In 2012, the Czech Republic announced its export strategy through 2020, placing Vietnam—the only country in Southeast Asia—among its 12 prior markets.

The Eastern European country has continually provided official development assistance to Vietnam, totalling 18 million USD.-VNA