PM proposes broader cooperation with Chinese Hong Kong
VOV.VN - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested expanding bilateral economic, trade, investment cooperation at a September 15 meeting with Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Leung Chun-ying.
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He underlined the need for authorities, associations and businesses to facilitate exchanges while expanding cooperation in culture, education, tourism and labour.
PM Phuc praised the Hong Kong administration for lifting its travel warning against Vietnam, and affirmed the Vietnamese government's readiness to provide all possible support to Hong Kong businesses to do business in Vietnam, especially in services and industries in line with the country’s sustainable development strategy.
The Vietnamese cabinet leader also asked Hong Kong to encourage the imports of food produce, seafood, rice, dairy and fruits, facilitate Vietnam’s trade and investment in Hong Kong and increase flight frequency.
Leung, in turn told his guest that Hong Kong sticks importance to augmenting win-win cooperation with Vietnam as part of efforts to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Vietnam.
He also vowed to act as a bridge to make it easier for Vietnamese firms and localities to have access to markets and global funding, adding that he believes the FTA between Hong Kong and ASEAN will open up a new period of mutually-beneficial cooperation between Hong Kong and ASEAN, and between Hong Kong and Vietnam as well.
Hong Kong is currently Vietnam’s ninth largest trade partner and the sixth largest supplier of foreign direct investment which has topped US$16.6 billion.Vietnam is the third largest trade partner of Hong Kong in ASEAN.
Earlier the same day, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc also met Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor who briefed him on the economic, trade, investment and tourism cooperation between the two sides recently.She held that the number of Hong Kong tourists to Vietnam so far this year increased 130% a year ago, while two-way trade has experienced rapid growth, with 35 % of total imported rice of Hong Kong shipped from Vietnam.
Immediately after her visit to Vietnam in August, the Hong Kong administration has devised a number of measures to expand partnership with Vietnam, including the removal of warning on travelling to Vietnam and the agreement to launch Vietjet Air’s air route from Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong, said the Hong Kong Chief Secretary.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board has also planned to increase tours by sea from Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Da Nang and Hai Phong in the coming time, she added.
PM Phuc hailed positive measures that Hong Kong has taken as well as contributions of Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to the bilateral ties, and reiterated Vietnam's willingness to work for the wider cooperation with Hong Kong in economy, trade and tourism.
He suggested management agencies should intensify exchanges to iron out snags in visa issuance procedures, offering favourable conditions for bilateral partnership in tourism, education and labour.
The two sides need to consider the signing of a rice trade deal to ensure the stable and long-term supply of the staple to Hong Kong, he stressed.
Later on the day, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Vietnamese delegation departed Hong Kong, successfully concluding the official visit to China to attend the 13th China-ASEAN Expo and Business and Investment Summit as well as the visit to Hong Kong.
On his way back, PM Phuc sent a message to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to thank for China’s warm welcome and show his belief that the visit will contribute to further strengthening the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the time ahead.