Hanoi and Berlin enjoy growing ties

At a meeting with Michael Biel, Berlin's Secretary of State for Economy and Energy, along with representatives of a number of municipal departments and sectors, Tuyen affirmed that the relationship between Vietnam and Germany is growing steadily across a variety of fields.

Germany is Vietnam's largest trading partner in the European Union (EU), and Vietnam is Germany's largest trading partner in Southeast Asia and sixth in Asia.

With mutual trust and understanding, in mid-November, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz paid an official visit to Vietnam, bringing the two countries' relations to a new stage of development.

Relations between the two capitals Hanoi and Berlin are increasingly developing under the joint direction of the two governments.

Currently, Berlin's businesses have run 79 projects with a total investment capital of US$253.3 million in Hanoi, mainly operating in the fields of science - technology, retail trade, processing and manufacturing industries, information and communication, while Hanoi enterprises export to Berlin in particular and Germany in general many items such as rice and aquatic products.

In addition to the level of relations between the two capitals, cooperation between localities were also promoted, such as between Hoang Mai district with Marzahn district of Germany, Hoan Kiem district in cooperation with Lichtenberg district in various fields like education - training and commerce, especially tourism.

In order to continue developing the friendly relationship between the two capitals and exploit each side's potential effectively, the two sides agreed to promote exchanges and cooperation in areas of mutual interest and strength of Berlin, such as economy-trade, education-training, health care, and tourism.

Tuyen expressed her hope that the two capitals will maintain cooperative relations in a variety of fields in the spirit of mutual trust, cooperation and sharing.

With Berlin's strength in the development of science - technology, heavy industry, education - training, trade and tourism, in the coming time, Hanoi capital desires to continue to receive cooperation with Berlin to promote investment, connect the business community, introduce potential opportunities as well as support businesses, who want to find opportunities for cooperation and business investment.

Regarding education, Tuyen suggested the two sides consider accelerating cooperation programs to provide support for scholarships and short-term training courses for pupils and students.

Concerning trade, she suggested that the Berlin city administration consider supporting Hanoi's small and medium enterprises that can take advantage of the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to access European market in general and Germany in particular, as well as bolstering import and export of Hanoi's strong commodities such as rice, garments and textiles, leather and footwear.

It is necessary to step up tourism cooperation to expand the markets of the two sides as tourism is also regarded as a potential field.

For his part, Michael Biel affirmed that Berlin always attaches importance to maintaining and expanding friendship and cooperation with Hanoi in multiple fields.

He also expressed his confidence that this visit by the Hanoi delegation will open up new cooperation opportunities, promote practical and effective development in a multitude of areas and the friendly relations between the administrations, and people of Hanoi and Berlin, thus deepening the Vietnam - Germany strategic partnership towards the 50th anniversary of both nations’ diplomatic relations (1975-2025).

Also within the framework of the visit to Germany, the delegation had a working session with the Vietnamese Embassy and visited Vietnamese community representatives in Berlin.