HCM City wishes to expand partnership with German state hinh anh 1Overview of the meeting (Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City wishes to foster collaboration with Rheinland Pfalz state of Germany in various fields, especially economy and education, stated Le Thanh Liem, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee at a meeting with Volker Wissing, the state’s Minister of Economics, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture in the city on April 13.

Liem held that the two localities boast high potential of cooperation, saying that Rheinland Pfalz state could support HCM City in some areas that the city is focusing on, including pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Once the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union takes effect, the partnership between the two localities will have abundant chances to expand, he said.

Speaking highly of Germany’s education, Liem said he hopes in the coming time, Rheinland Pfalz state will connect Ho Chi Minh City with its education experts and facilities to exchange experience in dealing with problems that the city is facing in the field.

He also suggested that the German side strengthen cooperation in coping with challenges in high-tech agriculture and eco-agriculture as well as share experience in developing support industry in the city.

The municipal leader pledged that the city always welcomes and creates favourable conditions for foreign investors, especially those from Germany, to do long-term business in the city.

For his part, Wissing said that his visit is part of activities to implement a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Rheinland Pfalz state and Vietnam, which was signed during the recent Germany visit of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

He said that his visit has created a good chance for the state’s businesses to seek partnerships with their peers in Ho Chi Minh City, while providing more opportunities for the two localities to step up collaboration in economy, education and tourism.

Wissing underscored that Rheinland Pfalz state firms are very interested with Ho Chi Minh City’s market and hoped that the city will back them in joining the market, especially in areas of biotechnology, machinery manufacturing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and viticulture.

Trade between Ho Chi Minh City and Germany hit 2 billion USD in 2017. Currently, the city is hosting 137 German-funded projects worth 250 million USD, making Germany the 14th biggest out of 93 countries and territories investing in the city.

Ho Chi Minh City is also home to the German House, a symbol of the Vietnam-Germany sound relationship.-VNA
VNA