HCM City, China’s Hainan province step up links across multiple fields

Nen expressed his pleasure at welcoming Xiaoming’s visit, which he believes marks the first step for the two localities to step up co-operation in a variety of fields.

The municipal leader reiterated the difficulties and challenges faced when the southern city became the "epidemic hotspot" of the fourth COVID-19 outbreak in Vietnam, especially when there was no vaccine. However, thanks to the solidarity of all people, the leadership of the Party and State, and especially the support of international friends, including China who provided both vaccines and medical equipment, Ho Chi Minh City overcome the pandemic and is gaining momentum for economic recovery.

According to Nen, both Ho Chi Minh City and Hainan province share similar characteristics as both are playing a key role as economic development centes.

Hainan province is being successful with a free trade model, while Ho Chi Minh City is the centre of the southern key economic region.

Therefore, the southern metropolis aspires to learn from Hainan's experience and bolster co-operation with the province in a multitude of areas, such as high technology, healthcare, new energy, and renewable energy.

Nen expressed his hopes that moving forward there will be more visits and direct working sessions between leaders of the two localities and departments to enhance the exchange of experience, as well as develop strategic and co-operative relations between the two localities.

In response, Xiaoming congratulated Ho Chi Minh City for overcoming the pandemic, thus bringing people's lives back to normal. Indeed, he has been greatly impressed with the city's development over recent years.

He said that from June, 2020, the Chinese Government decided to build Hainan province into a free trade area. At present, this policy has been effective, with Hainan province’s GDP ranking first in China.

Hainan represents the leading locality in terms of foreign investment attraction. Over recent years, Hainan has seen remarkable development in terms of the green energy economy, especially electric cars.

Recognising Ho Chi Minh City as the most dynamic and developing Vietnamese locality, the secretary of the Hainan provincial Party Committee suggested the two localities learn from each other and bolster all-around linkages for mutual development, with a specific focus on resuming direct flights and strengthening ties in tourism, agriculture, biotechnology, service industry, and the green economy.