At the talks (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn)
So said Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, during his talks on May 18 with Ms. Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Greek President who is on a visit to Vietnam.
During the talks, he expressed his wish to further promote cooperation between businesses, promote investment and trade between Greece and Vietnam in general and with Ho Chi Minh City in particular. “The city wishes to receive exchange of experience, technology transfer and cooperation from Greece in the fields of maritime and logistics, which is the strength of Greece,” said Mr. Mai. “In addition, the city is also ready to promote cooperation in tourism development with Greece, because this is an area where both sides have potential and room for cooperation and development.”
He also affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City is a locality that plays a leading role in the country’s economic, cultural and social development, and is ready to play an active role as a bridge for further development of cooperation between the two countries. “Ho Chi Minh City welcomes delegations of the Greek government, ministries, sectors and localities, as well as Greek businesses, to exchange and seek opportunities for cooperation,” he added.
Expressing her thanks to Ho Chi Minh City’s leader for a warm welcome, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou emphasized that although Vietnam and Greece are geographically far apart, they are similar in history and culture as well as the history of the struggle for national independence. Today, the relationship between Vietnam and Greece is developing more and more, on the basis of respect for international law and legitimacy in international relations, and that relationship still has room for more active development.
According to the Greek President, Vietnam and Greece need to strengthen cooperation more in the future, especially in areas where Greece has strengths such as education, cultural exchange, and historic preservation against climate change. Besides, the two countries also need to strengthen cooperation in the field of trade and investment, because the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EU has been signed and taken effect, which will create an important foundation for strengthening trade and investment relations between the two countries in the near future.
Appreciating the priority areas of cooperation that the city's leaders have proposed, Ms. Katerina Sakellaropoulou said that the two sides need to further strengthen cooperation in the fields of maritime, trade, and tourism development, which are the fields of development. “There is a lot of room for the two sides to strengthen cooperation and this visit will open more opportunities in cooperation between Greece and Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, especially in economic cooperation,” she said.
Earlier, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and a high-ranking Greek delegation offered incense and laid wreaths in front of President Ho Chi Minh Statue at President Ho Chi Minh Monument Park in the center of the city./.