At an earlier reception for the German leader, HCM City Mayor Le Hoang Quan noted that her visit is of great significance in strengthening cooperative relations between Vietnam and Germany as well as between Germany and the city.

Mr Quan said Germany has developed many investment projects in HCM City, including one to build a metro route #2, costing US$4.5 million in the first phase.

The project will help ease traffic congestion and contribute to socio-economic development in the city, said Mr Quan.

Chancellor Merkel also attended and delivered a speech at a Germany-Vietnam economic forum held in the city.

The German leader began an official visit to Vietnam on October 11 at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. She held high-level talks with Mr Dung in Hanoi where they agreed to establish a Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership to promote bilateral relations.