President Truong Tan Sang left Busan on Nov. 11, ending his state-level visit to the Republic of Korea , to attend the 11 th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Hawaii.

Earlier, he received Busan mayor Hur Nam-sik, and took the occasion to praise the friendship between the city and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, noting that since becoming sister cities in 2005 they have achieved significant results in economic, commercial, cultural and tourism cooperation.

The President said he wanted Busan to increase cooperation with HCM City , making the partnership the motive force to boost cooperation between the two countries.

He asked the mayor and municipal authorities to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese students and people living in the city.

Mayor Hur Nam-sik affirmed that Busan authorities and people always welcome Vietnamese friends. Busan and HCM city have launched a direct flight route, he said, describing it as a favourable condition for boosting cooperation between the two cities.

He said he believed that this visit will offer a new opportunity for stronger development of the two countries’ strategic cooperation.

Also on the same day, the President visited the Office of the Honorary Vietnamese General Consul in Busan, the Hyundai and Samsung manufacturing facilities and witnessed the signing of a technology transfer agreement between Hyundai and Truong Hai Company of Vietnam./.