Brian Jeffrey
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s Historic Visit to Poland
On January 16, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, alongside First Lady Le Thi Bich Tran and a Vietnamese delegation, landed at Frederic Chopin Airport in Warsaw, Poland. This trip was prompted by an invitation from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The Vietnamese delegation received a warm welcome from Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewsky, Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside the Polish Ambassador to Vietnam and several dignitaries. Members of the Vietnamese Embassy and local Vietnamese communities also gathered to greet the Prime Minister and his team.
During his stay, Prime Minister Chinh is scheduled to engage in discussions with key Polish officials and present a policy address at the University of Warsaw.
His agenda includes a visit to the National Research Institute for Cybersecurity (NASK), meetings with leaders of the Poland-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group, and participation in the Vietnam-Poland Business Forum.
Additionally, he will meet with prominent Polish corporations, connect with the Vietnamese Embassy staff, and interact with the Vietnamese diaspora in Poland.
A notable highlight of the visit is his involvement in the Spring Homeland 2025 event, which celebrates Tet and sends holiday wishes to overseas Vietnamese.
This trip marks the first official visit by a Vietnamese Prime Minister to Poland in 18 years, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Poland, which began on February 4, 1950.
The significance of this visit is amplified as Poland is set to assume the presidency of the European Union (EU) Council beginning January 1, 2025. With Poland’s rising stature within the EU, the visit aims to strengthen Vietnam-Poland relations and enhance broader Vietnam-EU cooperation, paving the way for a potential comprehensive strategic partnership.
Both nations see this visit as an opportunity to evaluate their bilateral relationship and pinpoint areas for increased collaboration.
Vietnamese businesses accompanying the Prime Minister view the visit as an opportunity to forge direct ties with Polish companies, promoting mutual understanding and collaborative efforts. This could stimulate trade and foster academic as well as scientific exchanges between the countries.
Historically, Poland has been a steadfast supporter of Vietnam, officially recognizing its independence in 1950. It also provided substantial assistance during Vietnam’s resistance wars and subsequent reconstruction, training thousands of Vietnamese engineers and skilled professionals.
Between the 1960s and 1990s, Poland educated over 4,000 Vietnamese students and professionals, besides training 3,500 skilled workers in sectors like coal mining and shipbuilding. Currently, the Polish government offers 20 scholarships each year to Vietnamese students, with intentions to increase this number.
As Vietnam’s leading trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe, Poland benefits as Vietnam itself stands as Poland’s seventh-largest trading partner outside the EU.
The Vietnamese community in Poland, approximately 30,000 strong, plays a significant role in reinforcing bilateral relations. Their substantial contributions to Polish society and commitment to nurturing the historic friendship between the two countries have garnered appreciation from Polish officials.
