HCM City wishes to foster cooperation with Israel

Tel Aviv (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City wishes to boost cooperation with Israel in short, medium and long terms, thus bringing practical benefits to both sides, said Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan.

At a meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem city on May 24 (local time), Nhan suggested the President continue supporting the promotion of collaboration between Israeli and Vietnamese partners, including those from Ho Chi Minh City, in fields of both sides’ strength and demand.

He also proposed Israel, via its Agency for International Development Cooperation and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, continue granting scholarships to and assisting the city in training high quality human resources in high technology.

He expressed his hope that the two counties will soon complete negotiations for the signing of a free trade agreement with a view to raising two-way trade to 3 billion USD in the years to come.

For his part, President Reuven Rivlin congratulated Vietnam on the great achievements it has made over the past four decades, especially in agriculture, health and tourism.

He spoke highly of the Vietnamese authorities’ support for the private economic sector and the development of the Vietnamese army.

The same day, the Ho Chi Minh City delegation visited the Hebrew University, one of the oldest and most famous universities in Israel, with the largest number of scientists holding Nobel and Fields prizes. They also called at the Mobileye Company and the Israel Innovation Authority.

Later on May 24, the delegation left Tel Aviv, concluding their working visit to Israel.-VNA