Ho Chi Minh City is keen to strengthen its links with Yangon city of Myanmar, especially in trade, services, manufacturing, vehicle assembly, banking and finance and tourism, said a senior official from Ho Chi Minh City.

The Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee Le Thanh Hai stated this at a meeting with Yangon Region Chief Minister U Myint Swe on March 12.

At the meeting, U Myint Swe said the visit would help to cement relations between the two countries as well as between Ho Chi Minh City and Yangon .

On the same day, Vice Chairwoman of the HCM City People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hong and Vice Chairman of the Yangon City Development Committee Kyaw Soe signed a memoranda of understanding (MoU) to set up friendship and cooperative ties between HCM City and Yangon .

Hai said the MoU will provide the basis for promoting a higher level of cooperation as well as make it easier for enterprises from both countries to invest and do business.

After the ceremony, the business communities from both cities met, during which twelve memoranda of understanding on cooperation and investment were signed.

The meeting was hosted by Myanmar ’s Federation of Chambers of Commerce to promote investment, trade and tourism between both cities.

Hai and other officials from Ho Chi Minh City started their visit to Myanmar on March 11.-VNA