HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City wishes to enhance effectivecooperation with German localities, thus contributing to the ties of the twocountries for peace and development, said Vice Chairman of the municipalPeople’s Committee Vo Van Hoan on October 2.

He made the statement in a speech at a ceremony to mark the 29th anniversary of Day of German Unity (October 3) held by the German ConsulateGeneral in Ho Chi Minh City.

In his speech, Hoan laid stress on the comprehensive and effective cooperativeties and sound friendship between the two countries in the past time, sayingVietnam always sees Germany as its trustworthy and important trade partner inEurope.

On the basis of their fruitful relations, both sides will continue enhancingall-round cooperation, especially in trade, and work together to celebrate the45th anniversary of the bilateral relations in 2020, he said.

The HCM City leader also highlighted the southern hub has made positivecontribution to the bilateral relations. Last year, trade revenue between thecity and Germany reached 2 billion USD, or one fifth of the Vietnam-Germanytrade revenue.

Germany is running 151 investment projects in HCM City with many operating inareas of the city’s priority like manufacturing, processing, science andtechnology, transport and warehouse. The Vietnamese city is housing manyimportant projects which are seen as milestones in the bilateral relations,including the German House, Metro Line No.2 and the International GermanSchool.

In addition, the city has carried out a wide range of activities to enhancecooperation with German localities like Frankfurt city and Thuringen state, headded.

German General Consul Josefine Wallat, for her part, expressed her delight overthe sound Vietnam-Germany relations, saying 2020 will be an eventful year forboth Vietnam and Germany as Vietnam will play the role as the ASEAN Chair,Germany will assume the presidency of the Council of the EU, and both sides arecelebrating their 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties in the year.

The year will be an important time for both sides to boost their cooperation invarious sectors, she said.

According to the German diplomat, as members of the UN Security Council in2020, Vietnam and Germany should promote their roles and make concerted effortsfor a better world, as well as work to ensure the enforcement of internationallaws and the exercise of freedom of trade and navigation based on internationallaws. Besides, they should enhance cooperative activities for regional andglobal peace, stability, cooperation and development./.