A delegation of businesses from the Sachsen state of Germany led by Secretary of State Juergen Staupe is on a nine-day visit to Vietnam beginning on May 1 to promote cooperation in environmental protection and improvement.

The delegation is scheduled to visit Hanoi, Quang Ninh province in the north and Vung Tau city and Ho Chi Minh City in the south. They will have discussions with leaders of relevant ministries and localities, organise two seminars on environment, and visit projects to improve environment in old mines and industrial zones.

Staupe said Vietnam’s high growth rates over the recent years have posed big threat to the environment and German companies, with their technologies and experiences, can help Vietnam a lot in dealing with issues of waste treatment and water drainage, and improvement of exhausted mines.

He also said there are certain favourable conditions for the cooperation between Vietnam and Sachsen state, noting that Vietnam’s developing economy is in the same stage as Sachsen’s economy in 1990s, and many Vietnamese who used to study in the state now are holding important positions in Vietnam. Sachsen is also home to some 10,000 Vietnamese at present. Two way trade between the state and Vietnam doubled to 35 million euros during the 2005-07 period.

He expressed hope that Sachsen environment companies would find success in Vietnam, adding that through the cooperation, Vietnam would contribute to the world’s environmental protection./.