Poland and Vietnam have pledged to cooperate more closely on defense, security and technology, as Hanoi scraps visa requirements for large groups of Polish tourists.
The Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính is on a week-long European tour visiting Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, where he will take part in the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.
Poland is home to a Vietnamese population of up to 50,000, one of the largest non-European communities living in the country, and the fourth largest Vietnamese population in the EU. Many Vietnamese people came to Poland on student programs organized during the communist era and decided to stay.
On Thursday, the Polish and Vietnamese prime ministers announced plans to step up bilateral ties after talks in Warsaw.
Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, and his Vietnamese counterpart focused their talks on enhancing bilateral trade, mutual investments, and cooperation in key sectors, including defense and modern technology.
“Economic cooperation with Vietnam is very promising, especially given the rapid growth of both our economies,” Tusk said after the meeting.
He also said that the two leaders discussed “very openly” geopolitical tensions and the war in Ukraine, mainly “what Poland and Vietnam could do together to make it (the conflict in Ukraine) end as soon as possible,” he said.
According to Karol Hoang, the spokesperson for the Vietnamese association in Poland, Vietnam and Poland complement each other in terms of exports and imports.
“Vietnam produces what Poland needs and Poland produces what Vietnam needs,” he told TVP World.
Poland is home to a Vietnamese population of up to 50,000, one of the largest non-European communities living in the country, and the fourth largest Vietnamese population in the EU. Many Vietnamese people came to Poland on student programs organized during the communist era and decided to stay.
On Thursday, the Polish and Vietnamese prime ministers announced plans to step up bilateral ties after talks in Warsaw.
Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, and his Vietnamese counterpart focused their talks on enhancing bilateral trade, mutual investments, and cooperation in key sectors, including defense and modern technology.
“Economic cooperation with Vietnam is very promising, especially given the rapid growth of both our economies,” Tusk said after the meeting.
He also said that the two leaders discussed “very openly” geopolitical tensions and the war in Ukraine, mainly “what Poland and Vietnam could do together to make it (the conflict in Ukraine) end as soon as possible,” he said.
According to Karol Hoang, the spokesperson for the Vietnamese association in Poland, Vietnam and Poland complement each other in terms of exports and imports.
“Vietnam produces what Poland needs and Poland produces what Vietnam needs,” he told TVP World.
He added that Poland serves as a gateway for Vietnamese products into the European Union, while Vietnam acts as a gateway for Polish products to Asia.
During his visit to Warsaw, the Vietnamese prime minister announced the removal of visa requirements for organized Polish tourist groups on short-term visits. He also praised Poland’s economic achievements.
“We admire the strength of the Polish economy and how it continues to improve the standard of living. A similar process is happening in Vietnam,” Chính said. He noted that trade between the nations grew by 14% in 2024, reaching $3.4 billion.
“Poland and Vietnam want to focus on key areas, such as defense and modern technologies, including the production of drones,” Chính said.
Vietnamese migrants make up one of the largest non-European immigrant groups in Poland.
Gesture of goodwill
During his visit to Warsaw, the Vietnamese prime minister announced the removal of visa requirements for organized Polish tourist groups on short-term visits. He also praised Poland’s economic achievements.
“We admire the strength of the Polish economy and how it continues to improve the standard of living. A similar process is happening in Vietnam,” Chính said. He noted that trade between the nations grew by 14% in 2024, reaching $3.4 billion.
“Poland and Vietnam want to focus on key areas, such as defense and modern technologies, including the production of drones,” Chính said.
Vietnamese migrants make up one of the largest non-European immigrant groups in Poland.
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