He made the remarks while attending a celebration of his country’s 19^th unification day on October 1.

He also took the opportunity to convey deep sympathy from the German government and people for the heavy loss of life and property in Vietnam’s central provinces due to the recent tropical storm Ketsana.

The diplomat said that the German government has decided to provide 300,000 EUR to help Vietnam recover from the disaster.

He announced that the German Chancellor will visit Ho Chi Minh City next year to attend the ground-breaking ceremony of a municipal metro line.

Both countries will conduct a series of events to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties, in Germany as well as in Vietnam, Cappell said.

The year 2010 will be called Vietnamese year in Germany and German year in Vietnam with 60 different programmes taking place throughout the year, which will promote the image of each country and set up new links between their peoples.

The Chairman of the Vietnam-Germany friendship chapter in HCM City, Tran Thanh Long, emphasised that Germany is one of Vietnam’s most important and largest trading partners in the European Union.

The two countries have seen a strong development of ties in politics, economics, education-training and science-technology, which has helped provinces, the business communities and intellectuals on both sides to work together.

More than 150 firms in the Germany business association have been operating in HCM City for many years. Hundreds of other German businesses have also opened up representative offices and have Vietnamese partners.

Apart from the Vietnam-Germany University, Germany’s international primary school is expected to expand.