>>Vietnam hopes to develop cooperation with Germany

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwell said this while meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem in Berlin on the sidelines of the 10th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (FMM ASEM 10).

Minister Westerwell briefed Mr. Khiem on the outcome of his visit to Vietnam during which both sides signed a US$212 million agreement to build an underground system in Ho Chi Minh City and a US$10 million agreement on a vocational training programme in Vietnam.

Germany and Vietnam should take full advantage of these opportunities to establish a strategic partnership, said Mr. Westerwelle.

Deputy PM Khiem appreciated Mr. Westerwelle’s visit to Vietnam and affirmed that Germany is Vietnam’s biggest EU partner.

Vietnam is willing to be a gateway for Germany to penetrate the ASEAN market and it supports building a “German House” in Vietnam.

The two ministers pledged to support each other in international forums and prepare for German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Vietnam, which is scheduled for October.