At a reception for visiting Irish President Michael D. Higgins and his spouse Sabina Higgins on November 11, Phong expressed his hope that Irish businesses will increase their investments in the city, particularly in areas of Ireland’s strength and experience like agriculture, food processing, diary products, telecommunications and climate change response.

He also called on Ireland to facilitate the access of Vietnamese garments-textiles, footwear, farm produce, processed food and handicrafts to the market.

Phong noted his belief that President Michael D. Higgins’s visit will contribute to enhancing the fruitful relations between Vietnam and Ireland.

Echoing his host’s view, the President said he believes that on the basis of outcomes of his meetings with Vietnamese leaders and the freshly-signed agreements, the bilateral ties will be deepened and elevated to a new height.

Ireland’s investment strategy dovetails nicely with Vietnam’s green and sustainable development strategy, he said, calling on the two sides to support each other, gearing towards balanced and sustainable growth.

Ireland will step up its cooperation with HCM City in high-tech agriculture and biochemical technologies, the guest affirmed.

He noted that Ireland also wishes to partner with the locality to accelerate the penetration of the two countries’ products into respective markets, and trace product origins.

After the meeting, President Michael D. Higgins and municipal leaders witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding on cooperation in education, aviation, research and biodiversity preservation.

While in HCM City, the President and his wife attended a exchange between Vietnamese and Irish businesses, and visited several historical relic sites in the locality.-VNA