Vietnam and the German State of Hesse will promote cooperation in economics, trade, investment, infrastructure, science-technology, transports-communication, culture, education-training, law-justice, banks, sports and tourism.

This is part of a memorandum of understanding on priority cooperation between Vietnam and the State signed between Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and Hesse Minister-President Volker Bouffier in Hanoi on October 4.

Under the MoU, both sides will assist small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Vietnamese enterprises’ activities in Frankfurt am Main and Hesse State and Hesse enterprises in Vietnam . They will also promote the SMEs exchange programme to increase their competitiveness and exports as well as the activities of the Vietnam-Germany University .

The two sides will accelerate student and lecturer exchange programmes for general and vocational training, jointly involve in infrastructure, transport and communications and assist research and renewal programmes.

At a reception for Bouffier earlier the same day, Nhan said he hopes the Hesse administration will continue to encourage and assist its businesses to conduct investment and business activities in Vietnam and facilitate Vietnamese enterprises’ operation in Hesse .

He affirmed the Vietnamese Government’s determination to build and develop the Vietnam-Germany University into a leading one in Vietnam .

Vietnam hopes to receive financial assistance, curricula and lecturers from Hesse to for the university, Nhan said.

He also proposed Hesse government assist Vietnam to set up a vocational training centre in the north so as to improve Vietnam ’s human resources training and provide workers for German and other foreign businesses operating in the country.

For his part, Bouffier said the relationship between the two countries has been cemented by a project to build the campus of the Vietnam-Germany University in HCM City with German financial assistance.

The project, a symbol of fine bilateral relations, has helped the two peoples better understand each other and encouraged the exchange of experiences between the two countries, he said.

The same day, Bouffier met with National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong, during which Phong spoke highly of Bouffier’s first Vietnam visit, which is taking place while the two countries are celebrating the first anniversary of the establishment of their strategic partnership (October 10, 2011-2012).

She affirmed that Vietnam always treasures the cooperation with the State of Hesse , a top economic, finane and education centre of Germany as well as Europe .

Phong expressed her hope that Bouffier and Hesse ’s parliamentarians will further their support in strengthening the cooperation between the Parliament of Hesse and the National Assembly of Vietnam.

In reply, Bouffier said he hopes the two sides will diversify their cooperation forms, aiming to assist and promote each other’s policies of developing economy, finance, investment, education and traning.

Bouffier was also received the same day by Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh who discribed his visit as a posstive move to boost ties between the two sides.

Minh said Vietnam considers the relations between Vietnam and the State of Hesse as a new model of cooperation between the country and German localities.

Bouffier said he is impressed by the socio-economic achievements Vietnam has gained during the past years, making the country one of the leading dynamic economy in Southeast Asia .

Minh and Bouffier agreed that the cooperation between Vietnam and the State of Hesse is developing strongly, particularly in economy, trade, investment and education.

However, there are rooms for both sides to further promote their cooperation, especially in the fields that Vietnam has high demand and the State of Hesse can supply such as medicine, chemical, mechanics, automobiles, finance and banking.

Many major businesses from the State of Hesse are now present in Vietnam such as Braun Melsugen Group, Merck and Messer Group.

Last year, trade revenue between the locality and Vietnam reached 970 million USD, doubling the 2010’s figure.