Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement while receiving Prof. Wolfgang Boehmer, Governor of the Sachsen-Anhalt State of Germany, in Hanoi on March 28.

PM Dung spoke highly of the visit by the Governor, who was accompanied by leading businesses from Sachsen-Anhalt State, saying that it will make practical contributions to strengthening the Vietnam-Germany relations.

He suggested the Sachsen-Anhalt State Governor focus on promoting cooperation with Vietnam in such areas as solar and wind energy and environmental protection as well as providing experienced lecturers for the Vietnam-Germany University.

On the occasion, the PM thanked the German authorities for supporting over 130,000 Vietnamese people living and working in the country, including 10,000 in Sachsen-Anhalt State.

For his part, Governor Wolfgang Boehmer said his visit aims to boost cooperation between Sachsen-Anhalt State and Vietnam, especially in science and technology, environment and energy.

He stressed that despite enomous geographic distance, Vietnam always holds an important position in the state’s development strategy.

Sachsen-Anhalt State will create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live and work in the state as well as for German businesses to invest in Vietnam, he said.

Germany is now Vietnam’s largest trade partner in Europe with two-way trade between the two countries reaching Ú$5.8 billion in 2010.