HCM City (VNA) - Ho Chi MinhCity expected that Vietnamese representative agencies abroad will continue servingas bridges to foster foreign relations between the city and countries worldwide,thus contributing its socio-economic development, said a local official.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong expressed the desireduring a meeting on August 3 with a delegation of new heads of Vietnamese representativeagencies abroad for the 2018-2021 term, which was led by Deputy Minister ofForeign Affairs Vu Hong Nam.

Phong wished the new ambassadors, consuls general and heads of overseas Vietnameserepresentative agencies success in their new tasks, thereby helping to strengthenthe cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and other countries in the world.

He asked the heads of Vietnamese representative agencies to support the city insetting up links with new partners such as Middle East countries and Israel.

The municipal authorities commit to listening to and is willing to work as astrong supporter for the Vietnamese representative agencies to fulfill theirassigned tasks, Phong stressed.

He called on the heads of Vietnamese representative agencies to provide updatedinformation related policies, investment environment of foreign countries forthe city’s enterprises, as well as support HCM City’s trade and investmentpromotion activities in foreign countries.

Phong hoped the agencies will help introduce the city’s projects that are callingfor foreign investment and key projects to potential partners and investors.

He also asked them to pay attention to working closely with the city inorganising cultural and tourism exchange events, thus enhancing mutualunderstanding and cultural and tourism cooperation between HCM City and foreignnations.

The agencies were also called to assist HCM city in connecting with intellectuals,potential overseas businesses, thus contributing to the development of the city,and the country in general.

Nam, who has been appointed as Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, expressed his impression ofHCM City’s development, affirming that the heads of the representative agencieswill continue to promote their role as bridges to connect the city with foreigncountries.

They will help the city attract more foreign investment, especially in prioritisedareas such as transportation infrastructure and port development, he said.

The official asked the municipal authorities to coordinate more closely with agenciesof the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and actively join diplomatic activities.

The city should determine the focus and demand for international cooperation inthe coming time, thus the ministry and representative agencies will assist infinding suitable partners, towards promoting economic diplomacy for the city’s socio-economicdevelopment.

During the meeting, participants discussed a plan to develop HCM City into asmart city as well as its prioritised programmes and projects.

They also focused on orientations and plans to push up links between HCM Cityand the host countries which the Vietnamese diplomats will take office,especially in the spheres of investment attraction, technology transfer, tradecooperation and cultural exchanges.-VNA