Spreading love of homeland in Europe

The Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic and Embassy staff welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife during their official visit to the Czech Republic, January 2025. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in the Czech Republic)

For me, my tenure in the Czech Republic was not only an honor but also a journey that left many deep impressions - memories that not only had personal significance but were also associated with major turning points in foreign relations between the two countries.

Among those memorable events, I would like to share two special memories, which are the preparation and reception of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife on an official visit to the Czech Republic in January 2025 - a visit that marked a turning point in bilateral relations and the program of the Prime Minister and his wife attending the Spring Homeland 2025, wishing the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic a Happy New Year.

Information about the Prime Minister's visit was announced quite urgently - just a few weeks before the traditional Tet holiday of the nation. With a short preparation time, a large amount of work and very high requirements for content, security, reception and logistics, the entire Representative Office quickly entered a "state of urgency". What moved me and made me feel especially proud was the sense of responsibility, unanimity and excellent coordination from the Czech people and the Vietnamese community in the country.

Strategic move

The Czech Republic is one of the Central European countries with a long-standing traditional friendship with Vietnam. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1950. Over more than seven decades, bilateral relations have developed positively, however, before 2025, the level of cooperation was only at the traditional friendly cooperation in various fields.

Upgrading the relationship to a Strategic Partnership has been the desire and effort of both sides for many years, but only the official visit of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has created a breakthrough, realizing this plan. Under the direction of Ambassador Duong Hoai Nam, all officers and staff of the Embassy have made careful preparations, from reception and security to content consultation and bilateral exchanges with key partners on the Czech side, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Czech Government Office.

On January 20, 2025, in a solemn atmosphere at the Czech Government Office in Prague, the two leaders of Vietnam and the Czech Republic issued a Joint Statement officially upgrading bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, and Vietnam became the first country in Southeast Asia to have a strategic relationship with the Czech Republic. That moment was the result of a meticulous preparation process and a milestone paving the way for deeper cooperation between the two countries in all fields. I understand that behind a diplomatic document is a synchronous coordination between the domestic and foreign countries, between the Central and local levels. At that memorable moment, I felt proud to have contributed a small part to continuing the history of Vietnam-Czech relations in the new context.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala met with the press to announce the two sides issued a Joint Statement on upgrading relations to a Strategic Partnership. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in the Czech Republic)

Warmth in the middle of winter in Prague

After the activities of the visit, an event full of cultural and emotional colors took place: the Xuan Que Huong 2025 program of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic was held on January 19, 2025 at the Sapa Trade Center (also known affectionately as Little Hanoi) where Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife met, wished a happy new year and interacted with the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic. This is a very meaningful activity that the Embassy proposed, as it was the first time the Prime Minister and his wife attended the Xuan Que Huong program in the Czech Republic, and the first time the head of the Government spent precious time during an official visit to directly meet and wish a happy new year to the Vietnamese community abroad right at the place of residence.

The presence of the Prime Minister and his wife not only clearly demonstrates the consistent viewpoint of our Party and State in considering the overseas Vietnamese community an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation, but also is a great source of spiritual encouragement for more than 100,000 Vietnamese people living, studying and working abroad. It was especially touching when the delegation's plane brought more than 200 traditional banh chung, prepared and transported from Vietnam to Prague to give to the people. In the cold weather of Europe, that gift with the flavor of the homeland has profound spiritual value. It is not only the flavor of Tet at home, but also the heart and deep affection of the Fatherland for overseas Vietnamese.

The image of the Prime Minister thoughtfully handing out each banh chung, asking about and listening to the people's stories left an unforgettable impression on the Vietnamese community. Many people were moved to tears, because in the midst of a difficult life, receiving a banh chung - a symbol of the homeland from the head of the Government himself - was something they never thought of. This action not only spread the humane message of the Party and State leaders, but also clearly demonstrated people's diplomacy in the new era - where emotions, culture and traditions are elevated to soft power in the country's foreign policy.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife met, wished a happy new year and interacted with Vietnamese people in the Czech Republic. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in the Czech Republic)

New era diplomacy

Looking back at the above events, I clearly see the increasingly expanding role of the Diplomatic sector in the new era. Diplomacy today covers everything from political dialogue to economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, digital diplomacy, technological diplomacy, people's diplomacy, etc. Representative agencies not only advise on policies and organize foreign affairs activities, but are also truly a bridge between the State and the people, with overseas Vietnamese, between Vietnam and international friends.

The success of the visit and the Homeland Spring program in 2025 is the result of consensus and smooth coordination between domestic and foreign agencies, and also shows the effectiveness of the synchronous implementation of the pillars of foreign affairs, professionalism and humanity - the core values of the Vietnamese Diplomatic sector over the past 80 years.

In the current new context, the Vietnamese Representative Office in the Czech Republic is continuing to make continuous efforts to concretize the contents of the Strategic Partnership, especially focusing on implementing Resolution 57-NQ/TW on scientific and technological breakthroughs, innovation and digital transformation, while promoting citizen protection, preserving cultural identity and strengthening solidarity among the Vietnamese community here.

I believe that, with the glorious 80-year tradition of the Sector, with the mettle of Ho Chi Minh's diplomacy, and with the companionship of all levels, all sectors, and the joint efforts of all generations, the Diplomatic Sector will continue to reap more successes - for a strong Vietnam, for the era of national growth and peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in the world.