In 1993, Slovakia was split from the Czechoslovak Federation. Vietnam and Slovakia declared the succession of relations established by Vietnam and former Czechoslovakia and took February 2, 1950 as the date of diplomatic relations establishment. The relationship between Vietnam and Slovakia has been positively developed since 1993 and both sides have highly respected their traditional friendship ties.
According to statistics, the economic ties between Vietnam and Slovakia are still below expectations due to limited potential and demands from both sides. The General Department of Vietnam Customs said the two-way trade value reached US$307.4 million in 2012, up over 80 per cent over 2011 and US$407.3 million in 2013, of which Vietnam earned a surplus of US$391.7 million. In 2014, the value fell slightly to US$399.9 million and to nearly US$300 million in 2015, of which Vietnam took a surplus of US$275.5 million.
Vietnam mainly exported footwear, garment - textile materials, food, agricultural products, seafood, telephones, electronic components and computers and imported chemicals and equipment.
The Vietnam - Slovakia Intergovernmental Committee was founded in 1997. In April 2001, the commission convened the second meeting in Bratislava. Slovakia can cooperate with Vietnam in energy (nuclear energy), machine manufacturing and defence industry (construction machinery, road construction machinery, hydraulic equipment, tractor, textile machinery. Vietnam purchased and improved defence equipment from Slovakia), chemical and pharmaceutical (medicine production and medical equipment supply), tanning and leather shoe production, transportation (railway modernisation), construction (cooperation in infrastructure designing and construction), and agriculture and food (fruit and vegetable preservation and processing technology, beer production in Vietnam). Current economic and commercial cooperation programmes require companies of both nations to carry out specific projects.
Slovakia's investment in Vietnam is very modest. As of the end of March 2015, Slovakia had five projects in total with US$235.47 million of investment capital, ranking 33rd out of 101 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Typical projects included a hotel and office complex in Ho Chi Minh City and US$45-million 120-ha Lac Thinh Industrial Park in Hoa Binh province where houses a EUR86-million beer production plant invested by Slovakia.
The economic and commercial cooperation will continue to be a major content of bilateral relations. In 2016, the two countries will organise the second meeting of the Vietnam - Slovakia Intergovernmental Commission on economic cooperation in Bratislava.
Vietnam is a partner of Slovakia in Southeast Asia and East Asia. Currently, Slovakia is an EU member while Vietnam is also an active ASEAN member. With its flexible open-door economic policy and mechanism, Vietnam can serve as a bridge and good destination for Slovak goods to enter into not only Vietnam but also into ASEAN region. For its part, Slovakia is also an important partner and a gateway for Vietnam's products to penetrate the EU and Europe.
Moreover, the fine relation as between Vietnam and Slovakia is rarely seen in the world. To date, 6,000 Vietnamese people have studied in Slovakia and many have decided to live and work here. They usually start up with small shops and businesses and they are very successful.
Anh Mai
Vietnamese
