Ho Chi Minh City wants to further cooperation with Australian localities across fields in which both sides boast potential, including tourism, education and high-tech agriculture, said a local official.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong (R) and his Australian guest 

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong made the statement while hosting a reception for Keith Pitt, Australian Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, on April 5.

Phong expressed his delight at the sound comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Australia, saying that Keith Pitt’s visit to Vietnam will give a push to cooperation activities between the two countries and between Australian localities and Ho Chi Minh City in particular.

Speaking highly of education quality of Australia’s universities and institutes, he said HCM City’s students and officials, who had been trained in Australia, have contributed to high-quality human resources in the city.

Phong also affirmed that the municipal authorities will create favourable conditions for foreign businesses, including those from Australia, to make long-term investments in the city.

For his part, Keith Pitt recommended that increasing the frequency of direct flights between two countries, including flights from/to HCM City, will facilitate trade, investment tourism links between Australia and Vietnam’s southern hub.

Impressed by HCM City’s strong development, he promised to do his utmost to further relations in trade, investment and tourism between Australian localities and the city.

Ho Chi Minh City has established friendship and cooperation relations with Australia’s Queensland State and Northern Territory. 

Among 84 countries and territories that have invested in HCM City by March 2017, Australia was the city’s 19th largest source of investment with 167 projects valued at 184 million USD. Two-way trade in 2016 was estimated at 900 million USD.

VNA