Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has hailed Hessen state’s important role in developing Vietnam-Germany ties, especially in economy and trade with two-way trade between Vietnam and Hessen reaching almost 700 million EUR in the first quarter of 2017. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Minister-President of Hessen state Volker Bouffier

During a working session with Minister-President of Hessen state Volker Bouffier on July 5, PM Phuc asked the state’s authorities to continue encouraging local firms to do long-term business in Vietnam and provide support for Vietnamese enterprises operating in Hessen such as Vietinbank and FPT. 

The Vietnamese government always supports and creates favourable conditions for firms from Germany in general and Hessen state in particular to invest and do long-term business in the country, he said. 

On education-training, the Vietnamese leader spoke highly of the Vietnam-Germany University (VGU) project and urged Hessen state to assist Vietnam in implementing next stages of the project, especially in providing curricula to train Vietnamese lecturers for the university. 

Bouffier, for his part, described the VGU project as a typical model of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Germany. He praised academic results of Vietnamese students, believing that they would contribute to Vietnam’s development and global integration.

The Minister-President expressed his wish to work closely with Vietnam in the fields of the state’s strength such as education-training, chemicals and mechanical engineering. 

In a meeting with Speaker of the Parliament of Hessen state Norbert Kartmann, PM Phuc appreciated the support of the state’s leaders and parliamentarians in developing relations between Vietnam and Germany in general, and between Vietnam and Hessen state in particular. 

He asked leaders and parliamentarians of Hessen to strengthen cooperation between the State Parliament with the Vietnamese National Assembly and People’s Councils of major cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and central Da Nang city, in sharing experience in building a State of law, making laws, managing public investment, public-private partnership, e-commerce and urban management.

Kartmann said there are great potential for enterprises of Hessen to invest in Vietnam, revealing that a number of Hessen companies have effectively operated in Vietnam. 

He also spoke highly Vietnam’s reform efforts and dynamic economic development, expressing his belief in the fruitful development of cooperative ties between the two countries in all fields in the coming time. 

Hessen state will further contribute to promoting the Strategic Partnership between the two nations, he affirmed. 

Later on the same day, PM Phuc will leave Hessen for Berlin, continuing activities within the framework of his visit to Germany.

Located in central Germany, Hessen state is one of the country’s largest economic hubs and Europe’s strong development areas. The state is known for chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, manufacturing, auto production and engineering. Frankfurt, the state’s largest city and financial hub, is home to headquarters of the European Central Bank, Germany central bank – Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, and branches of over 400 foreign banks. 

Since launching the Frankfurt -Vietnam direct air route in 2007, Hessen state has proved its important role in promoting the economic and trade ties between the two countries.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and Frankfurt is currently at 1 billion USD, or one eight of the total trade value between the two countries.

Hessen’s major companies are operating smoothly in Vietnam such as Bilfinger & Berger construction group, B.Braun Melsungen medical equipment production firm, Messer gas production group, Commerzbank, and Deutsche Bank.

In September 2011, the Vietnam JS Commercial Bank for Industry and Commerce (Vietinbank) and FPT opened their representative offices in Frankfurt.

Vietnam and Hessen state have cooperated in training and education. From 1992, the state has provided about 110 scholarships a year for Vietnamese students via the Vietnam university support organisation (WUS).

The two sides signed a joint statement on cooperation in tertiary training in 2005. They also inked a letter of intent on the formation of Germany-Vietnam University in Vietnam which was launched in September 2008 during a visit to the Southeast Asian nation by Hessen Minister President Roland Koch.

PM meets leaders of Rheinland-Pfalz state

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and leaders of Rheinland-Pfalz state 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has expressed his wish that the German parliament would encourage investment in Vietnam in fields of Germany’s strength such as energy equipment, railway, support industry, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, transport and tourism infrastructure, bio-technology and food processing. 

During a working session with Minister-President of Rheinland-Pfalz state Malu Dreyer  in Mainz city on July 5, the PM urged the German parliament to support the establishment of the Germany-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group to further strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two legislatures, particularly in legislation and supervision. 

He spoke highly of the state’s economic strengths in tourism, information technology, chemicals and wine production, and suggested exploring the possibility of collaboration in workforce development, particularly training Vietnamese nurses in hospitals and medical stations in the state. 

Dreyer, who is also President of the German Federal Council, hoped that new business opportunities will open up via the visit. 

During a working session with Rheinland-Pfalz state Deputy Minister-President and Minister for Economic Affairs, Transportation, Agriculture and Viniculture Volker Wissing, PM Phuc affirmed that economic link is a pillar in the bilateral strategic partnership and there remains room for bilateral economic, trade and investment ties. 

The Vietnamese government is ready to offer favourable conditions to German corporations in Vietnam, contributing to deepening the bilateral strategic partnership, he said. 

German corporations such as Boehringer Ingelheim, BASF and Hornbach also expressed their interest in doing business in Vietnam.

Rheinland-Pfalz was established on August 30, 1946 and is now home to more than 4 million people, ranking seventh out of the 16 states nationwide. Its major economies include tourism, industry, agriculture and forestry. With six viniculture areas, the state is also the leading wine producer in the country.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets OVs in Germany

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Germany 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Germany right after his arrival in Berlin on July 5 evening (local time). 

At the meeting, the PM briefed the overseas Vietnamese (OVs) on the situation at home and the implementation of major policies and guidelines of the Party and the State. 

He said Vietnam’s elevated position in the international arena has been shown through its first-ever attendance at the G20 Summit in Germany as the APEC 2017 Chair. 

The leader spoke highly of the dynamic development of the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership over the past years, noting that despite being busy with preparations for the G20 Summit, Germany has still arranged meetings between PM Phuc and German leaders on this occasion. 

This is a chance for the two sides to discuss measures to promote bilateral ties and call on German businesses to invest in Vietnam, PM Phuc added. 

He appreciated the role played by a contingent of 170,000 Vietnamese in Germany in enhancing relations between the two countries. 

The leader stressed that the overseas Vietnamese community is an integral part of the nation, stating that the Party and State pay attention to and protect interests of OVs. 

He urged the Vietnamese in Germany to promote their solidarity and continue to work as a bridge between the two countries. 

Appraising the Vietnamese Embassy’s contributions to the bilateral pragmatic and effective relationship, PM Phuc asked the agency to make specific proposals to further advance the ties. 

PM Phuc visits Consulate General’s staff in Frankfurt

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (second from the right) and the Vietnamese Consulate General's staff 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc called on the Vietnamese Consulate General’s staff in Frankfurt city, Hessen state, on July 5 right after his arrival in Germany. 

During the meeting with the Consulate General’s staff, the Government leader stressed that his visit to Germany aims to further deepen the Strategic Partnership between the two countries, including bolstering trade and economic links with Hessen state and Frankfurt city. 

Vietnam always considers Germany as one of its leading reliable and important partners in Europe, he said. 

While briefing on the homeland’s socio-economic and political situation in the first half of this year, PM Phuc hailed the Consulate General’s staff for their efforts to enhance relations between the two countries. 

He affirmed the Vietnamese Party and State’s open-door foreign policy, saying that Vietnam wants to make friends with all countries worldwide and integrate deeper into the world economy. 

The PM asked the Consulate General’s staff to continue maintaining solidarity and creating more favourable conditions for Vietnamese expatriates in Frankfurt in particular, and those living and working Hessen and Germany in particular, to lead stable lives, well integrate into society and promote national cultural identities.

Consul General Nguyen Hong Linh said all the staff members have been deeply aware of the Party’s external policy and the nation’s socio-economic development targets, and have well completed state and people-to-people external affairs assigned by the Party and State. 

Overseas Vietnamese in Frankfurt have closely followed Vietnam’s development and usually organised charitable activities towards the homeland, he noted.

VNA