Germany pledges long-term cooperation with Vietnam: FM
Wednesday, November 02, 2016, 19:03 GMT+7
Germany will maintain long-term cooperation with Vietnam, the Western European country’s top diplomat said in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday.
The southern metropolis was the last stop on a three-day visit to Vietnam by German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
As part of his activities in Ho Chi Minh City, minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier yesterday attended the topping-out ceremony of the Deutsches Haus , or German House, a symbol of the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership.
The top German diplomat praised the German House as a symbol affirming Germany’s pledge to maintain long-term cooperation with Vietnam and support the Southeast Asian country’s reform within the framework of the strategic partnership between the two countries, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
Speaking at the ceremony, Frank-Walter Steinmeier also thanked Vietnam’s relevant agencies and Ho Chi Minh City for their cooperation and facilitation of the German House project to progress on schedule.
The German minister added that the German House is not only about economic cooperation but also promotes cooperation between Vietnam and Germany in such fields as culture, arts, technology and defence.
The venue will serve as the meeting place for German and Vietnamese enterprises, and an address for European Union and ASEAN businesspeople to meet and seek partners, he said.
In the meantime, Ho Chi Minh City deputy chairman Le Van Khoa said the German House illustrates the willingness and determination of both countries in boosting their bilateral comprehensive relationship.
Ho Chi Minh City pledges to create favorable conditions for German enterprises to implement cooperation projects in the city, according to the deputy chairman.
The US$100 million German House is scheduled to be put into use in August 2017.
The 25-story high-rise building stands opposite the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, and is based on a design by the German architect Meinhard von Gerkan.
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
