Vietnam is pleased with its relations with Slovakia, with which it shares many common viewpoints on world and regional affairs and a determination to boost their comprehensive economic cooperation.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet delivered this statement when he met visiting Slovak National Council Speaker Pavol Paska in Ho Chi Minh City on January 29.

The President on this occasion thanked Slovakia for its support in the past during Vietnam’s struggle for national independence as well as in its present-day development process.

Triet reckoned that the two countries have great potential in economic cooperation and said Vietnam wishes to boost cooperation with Slovakia in the fields of energy and infrastructure.

At the meeting, the State leader affirmed that Vietnam supports Slovak investors and businesses and hoped they would become firm bridges linking the two countries.

“I hope ministers from the two countries’ governments will have regular discussions to come up with concrete and effective cooperation”, said Triet.

For his part, the Slovak speaker said that their fine bilateral political ties provide a solid basis for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

Paska asserted that as a member of the European Union (EU), Slovakia will help Vietnam protect its economic interests in the EU market.

He expressed his delight at the news that the two countries will soon set up an inter-governmental cooperation committee and asked the Vietnamese government to support Slovak investors in several projects they are interested in, including an oil and gas processing complex.

Paska spoke highly of contributions made by the 6,000-strong Vietnamese community in Slovakia. “The community creates a special connection between the two nations”, affirmed Paska./.