Vietnam and Germany are ready for a new stage of dynamic and more effective cooperation, Conrad Cappell, German Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City , said on Oct. 1. Cappell made the remarks while attending a celebration of his country’s 19th unification day, and took the opportunity to also extend condolences from the German government and people on the heavy loss of life and property in Vietnam ’s central provinces due to the recent tropical storm Ketsana.

The diplomat said the German government has decided to provide 300,000 EUR to help Vietnam recover from the natural disaster.

He announced that the German Chancellor will visit Ho Chi Minh City next year to attend the ground-breaking ceremony of a municipal metro line in the construction of which Germany is jointly invested.

The two countries will conduct a series of events to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties in Germany as well as in Vietnam , Cappell said.

The year 2010 will be named Vietnam year in Germany and Germany year in Vietnam with 60 different programmes taking place throughout the year, which will promote the image of each country and set up new links between their peoples.

Chairman of the Vietnam-Germany friendship chapter in HCM City Tran Thanh Long emphasised that Germany is one of Vietnam ’s most important and largest trading partners in the European Union. The two countries saw strong development of ties in politics, economics, education-training and science-technology, facilitating the ability of localities, business communities and intelligentsia on both sides to work together.

More than 150 firms in the Germany business association have been operating in HCM City for many years. Also, hundreds of other German businesses has opened representative offices and partnered with Vietnamese companies.

Apart from the Vietnam-Germany University, Germany’s international primary school is expected to expand its scale in the city./.