At the reception, Mr. Phong congratulated Mr. Ngo Tuan as new Chinese Consul General in HCMC, and expressed his delight at witnessing the positive developments of Vietnam-China relations. The year 2018 marks 68 years of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations and 10 years of strategic partnership.

Mr. Phong said as an economic locomotive, a commercial-cultural-technological centre of the whole country, HCMC aims to turn it into a modern, civilized city and a financial centre of the region. He added that the city’s leaders always create favourable conditions for foreign investors to seek cooperation opportunities in fields of transportation, infrastructure, environment, tourism, etc.

In term of trade, two-way trade between HCMC and China reached over US$ 10 billion in 2016 and US$ 16 billion in 2018. China has now 203 projects in HCMC worth US$ 132 million, ranked 19 out of 95 countries and territories investing in HCMC. HCMC has established cooperation relations with 7 cities of China including Thuong Hai, Quang Chau, Chiet Giang, Tham Duong, Quang Dong, Son Dong and the self-governing region of Choang Quang Tay.

He expressed his hope that Mr. Ngo Tuan, as new Chinese Consul General, will help attract Chinese investors to HCMC to seek trade-investment cooperation opportunities.

For his part, Mr. Ngo Tuan expressed his impression at the rapid growth rate of HCMC, saying he will encourage Chinese investors to do business in HCMC in particular and in Vietnam in general.

HCM CITYWEB