Polish Ambassador Joanna Skoczek: Prime Minister Donald Tusk's visit to deepen Viet Nam–Poland relations

Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1950, Viet Nam and Poland have cultivated good friendship and cooperation, underpinned by mutual trust and understanding. Throughout the past decades, relations between the two countries have continued to evolve, adapting to changes in the international landscape and the development needs of both nations.

According to Ambassador Joanna Skoczek, Prime Minister Donald Tusk's upcoming visit is particularly significant as the first visit by a Polish head of government to Viet Nam in 16 years. Following former Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Warsaw nearly two years ago, the trip reflects renewed momentum in high-level exchanges and a shared commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

Reflecting on the two countries' historical ties, the Ambassador highlighted Poland's contributions to Viet Nam's post-war reconstruction and development, particularly through education and human resource training.

"After the devastating war, Poland opened the doors of its universities to young Vietnamese, especially in the areas crucial to the reconstruction and development of Viet Nam," Ambassador Skoczek shared.

Today, as both countries have established themselves as dynamic economies in Southeast Asia and Western Europe, respectively, their partnership is evolving to reflect new economic priorities and shared development aspirations, such as advancing green technologies, improving economic models, and stepping up digital transformation.

Ambassador Skoczek said Prime Minister Tusk's visit would inject fresh momentum into bilateral relations, encouraging closer engagement between businesses and institutions while reaffirming Poland's commitment to expanding cooperation with Viet Nam.

Economic cooperation has become a cornerstone of bilateral relations, with trade between Viet Nam and Poland surpassing USD 8 billion in 2025. Expressing delight at this growth, Ambassador Skoczek highlighted Poland's ambition to diversify its exports by introducing more technologically advanced, higher-value products to the Vietnamese market.

The Ambassador stated that this growth also underscores the need to diversify the structure of bilateral trade, particularly by expanding the presence of Polish products with higher technological content and added value in the Vietnamese market.

While Viet Nam exports a wide range of products to Poland, including electronics, mobile phones, information technology equipment, garments and footwear, Polish exports to Viet Nam remain largely concentrated in dairy products, poultry, confectionery, cosmetics and semi-finished goods.

"They are excellent, but we need to extend our offer by supplying more products higher in the value chain, those that are technologically advanced. Vietnamese consumers are demanding, looking for new products and eager to taste new things," Ambassador Skoczek remarked.

Beyond traditional trade, the Ambassador identified green technology and digital transformation as promising areas for future collaboration. Highlighting Poland's advances in electronic tax administration and digital healthcare, the Ambassador expressed that Poland stands ready to share its technological expertise and practical experience with Viet Nam.

Earlier this year, the Polish Embassy in Viet Nam co-organized a business mission under the GreenEvo program to promote green technology innovation. The initiative brought approximately a dozen Polish companies to Viet Nam to showcase water and waste management solutions that meet local needs. These networking initiatives are expected to pave the way for concrete business partnerships and collaborative projects, contributing to Viet Nam’s sustainable development goals.

Education remains an important pillar of Viet Nam-Poland bilateral ties. According to the Ambassador, Viet Nam has been selected as one of four priority countries under the Strategic Four program of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), which seeks to strengthen academic ties and foster long-term partnerships in science, research and higher education.

“We believe that there is a need to build stronger links between academia, research and development, and business. Such connections will help translate research findings into practical applications more effectively, while enabling businesses to access skilled talent and new technologies,” the Ambassador remarked.

Beyond diplomatic and economic cooperation, Ambassador Skoczek hailed important role of the Vietnamese community in Poland in fostering cultural understanding and strengthening people-to-people ties.

Describing the community as well-integrated, vibrant, and entrepreneurial, she praised the Vietnamese community for its contributions to Polish society, particularly through business activities, cultural initiatives, and efforts to preserve Vietnamese traditions and language.

"I particularly appreciate the community’s efforts to preserve and promote Vietnamese culture and language. Initiatives showcasing Vietnamese culture have received support from local authorities and a positive response from Polish people, who are always eager to learn about new cultures. I hope that second- and third-generation Vietnamese in Poland will continue to build on this role while actively seeking opportunities in education, research and cultural exchange. Those who are fluent in both languages and familiar with both cultures and traditions will be well-positioned to serve as bridges between our two peoples,” Ambassador Joanna Skoczek shared.

According to the Ambassador, since Viet Nam introduced visa-free entry for Polish tourists, the number of tourists from Poland has grown by more than 50% annually. She hoped Prime Minister Tusk's visit would encourage more Polish citizens and businesses to explore opportunities in Viet Nam, further strengthening the partnership across multiple sectors.