Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan received visiting German Minister of Economics and Technology Philipp Rosler in HCM City on Sept. 19.
Quan said Germany and Vietnam in general and HCM City in particular have a good long-lasting relationship .
At present, two-way trade between HCM City and Germany exceeds 1.2 billion USD, he said, adding that 60 German businesses are investing in the city with a total capital of more than 300 million USD while the number of tourists from Germany to HCM city is on the rise.
Quan also stressed that Germany and HCM City have huge cooperation potential, and said he expects more German investors to invest in the city, especially in infrastructure, economics, industry and services.
He further said that the city is trying to start a project on the urban railway No.2 at an early date and asking relevant agencies to create favourable conditions for the implementation of the German House project.
Rosler praised the economic environment in HCM City, and said he hopes that there will be more German enterprises to invest in Vietnam and HCM City.
He also said he expects the municipal authorities to create favourable conditions for the building of the German House and pledged that Germany is willing to help HCM City to implement the urban railway No.2 project.
In terms of education, the minister said the building of the Vietnam-Germany University and the German international school in the city demonstrates the fine relationship between his country and HCM City.
On this occasion, Minister Philipp Rosler attended the inauguration ceremony of the German international school and that of the Germany-Vietnam technology academy.
The same day, the minister participated in the Vietnam-Germany Business Forum, which drew more than 400 delegates.
Addressing the event, Rosler voiced his support to the Vietnam- EU Free Trade Agreement, which, he said, will act as basis for the two sides to understand and cooperate with each other in the economic aspect.
Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang said Vietnam and Germany can cooperate in many fields, especially in improving institutional building capacity, administrative reforms, infrastructure development, human resource training, health care, energy and services.
The successful negotiations on the Vietnam-EU FTA will bring great opportunities for the two countries, he noted.
Delegates at the forum discussed issues relating to vocation training for industries and enterprises as well as technology development in agricultural product processing.-VNA