HCM City (VNA) – Cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and China’s Shandong province has yet to be on par with potential, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Huynh Cach Mang has said.
Mang spoke highly of the Chinese province’s development while meeting with a delegation from Shandong on November 11.
Shandong is a leading Chinese locality with strong economic growth and rich cultural and historical traditions, an example that HCM City should follow, he noted.
Though the two sides set up relations in 2013, cooperation activities have just focused on delegation exchanges, he said, expressing his hope that bilateral ties will grow to a new height following the delegation’s working visit.
HCM City wants to foster partnerships in trade, tourism and agriculture, particularly hi-tech agriculture, with Shandong, Mang added.
At the meeting, Deputy Governor of Shandong Wang Shujian valued the prosperity of HCM City and wished the city more development achievements.
He said his province has time-honoured cooperation with Vietnam, and this is an important foundation for Shandong-HCM City relations. Many Shandong enterprises are doing business in Vietnam, as well as in the southern city.
As the Chinese province is strong at manufacturing, it will encourage its companies to invest in this industry in HCM City, Wang noted, adding that he hopes the Vietnamese side will provide the best possible conditions for their investment.
He said he also looks towards more Vietnamese agricultural products exported to Shandong, along with cooperation in developing seaports and airports. He suggested a direct flight route between HCM City and Shandong be opened to facilitate investment partnership.
The two sides will also base on the 2013 agreement to implement other cooperation activities such as exchanges between the two administrations and peoples, economic-trade development promotion, and in culture and education.-VNA