At the opening ceremony of the festival. (Photo: VNA) The event, from July 28-30, is held by the HCM CityPeople’s Committee in coordination with the Vietnamese Embassy in France andPortugal, and Porto authorities.
It is the biggest trade, investment, tourism andculture promotion even launched by HCM City in Europe this year, Vice Chairmanof the municipal People’s Committee Duong Anh Duc said in his opening remarks,informing that HCM City and Porto have just signed a memorandum ofunderstanding on establishing friendship and cooperation.
The festival is expected to be held annually to bring Vietnam’ssouthern metropolis closer to international friends, and tighten the friendship andcooperation between Vietnam in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular with countriesworldwide, including Portugal, he added.
Porto Mayor Rui Moreira highlighted the potential forVietnam and Portugal to intensify their cooperation, as well as their good willin strengthening the bilateral trade ties.
The official expressed his hope that the festival willcontribute to consolidating the relations between Porto and Vietnameselocalities, while promoting new strengths in the areas that have great economic,scientific and environmental potential.
Vietnamese Ambassador to France and Portugal Dinh ToanThang said festival goers should use the occasion to establish new partnerships,consolidate existing relations and build long-term friendship.
The highlight of the festival was an economiccooperation forum organised by the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of HCMCity, with the participation of more than 100 business representatives from HCM City, Porto and neighbouring European countries, along with Vietnamese tradecounselors.
The participants looked into the business environmentin the two cities, raised proposals to their leaders, and explored cooperationopportunities.
Apart from various performances by Vietnamese and Portugueseartists, the festival also introduces Vietnamese agricultural products,handicrafts, traditional costumes and folk games, and features a photoexhibition capturing HCM City’s development and integration./.
VNA
