Vietnam, Hong Kong vow to boost multifaceted ties, sign 8 cooperative deals
Vietnam, Hong Kong vow to boost multifaceted ties, sign 8 cooperative deals
Vietnam and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) have pledged to foster cooperation in various fields and signed eight cooperative agreements on finance, trade, investment, and aviation.
Vietnam’s Deputy Minister Tran Luu Quang (R) shakes hands with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Lee Ka-chiu at their talks in Hanoi on August 1, 2024. Photo: Vietnam Government Portal |
Vietnamese State President To Lam and Chief Executive of HKSAR Lee Ka-chiu, made the pledge at their meeting in Hanoi on Thursday, as part of the latter’s three-day official visit to Vietnam starting on July 31, at the invitation of Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang.
This has been the first official visit to Vietnam by a head of the special administrative region since its establishment in 1997, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
Considering the cooperative and friendly relations with China as a strategic choice and a top priority in its foreign policy, Vietnam always respects and advocates China’s ‘one country, two systems’ principle, the Basic Law of HKSAR of the People’s Republic of China, along with Hong Kong’s related regulations, supporting the territory’s prosperous and happy development, President Lam told his guest.
Highlighting that Hong Kong is currently the seventh-largest trade partner and the fifth-largest foreign direct investor of Vietnam, while Vietnam is Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner in ASEAN and the seventh-biggest globally, the Vietnamese leader proposed further promoting cooperation in the fields of economics, trade, and investment.
President Lam suggested that the HKSAR authorities continue to facilitate Vietnamese citizens getting entry visas for work, travel, and study in Hong Kong.
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| Vietnamese State President To Lam (R) shakes hands with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Lee Ka-chiu in Hanoi, August 1, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency |
To strengthen the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Hong Kong, the president suggested that the two sides increase exchanges and cooperation at all levels.
Agreeing with President Lam’s suggestions, Lee affirmed that the Hong Kong SAR government attaches importance to developing win-win cooperative ties with Vietnam, especially in economics, trade, investment, culture, education, tourism, and aviation.
The guest urged the two sides to tap cooperation in emerging fields such as science and technology, digital economy, digital transformation, and clean energy.
The Hong Kong leader also affirmed support for Vietnam in successfully hosting multilateral events in the coming time, including Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Year 2027.
Earlier on the same day, the executive chief of Hong Kong SAR had talks with Deputy PM Quang, focusing on deepening cooperative ties.
Quang welcomed Hong Kong corporations and enterprises to actively engage in the Vietnamese market, implement high-quality investment projects, and increase the importation of Vietnamese goods.
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| This image shows officials of Vietnam and Hong Kong exchanging one of the cooperative agreements signed between the two sides in Hanoi on August 1, 2024. Photo: Vietnam Government Portal |
He urged the Hong Kong administration to continue creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community there, providing more scholarships for Vietnamese students, and coordinating with Vietnam to prevent illegal activities.
The deputy premier also recommended that the two sides foster collaboration in multilateral mechanisms and forums, especially Hong Kong's support for Vietnam to host APEC Year 2027.
Agreeing with Quang’s recommendations, Lee said the SAR authorities are ready to beef up multifaceted bilateral cooperation for mutual benefits of businesses and people of the two sides.
Lee appreciated Vietnam’s plan to send representatives to attend the ninth Belt and Road Summit, to be held in Hong Kong in September this year.
He suggested Vietnam continue creating favorable conditions for Hong Kong enterprises to expand investment in Vietnam.
On this occasion, Lee invited Deputy PM Quang to visit Hong Kong at a convenient time.
At the end of their talks, the two sides witnessed the signing and exchange of eight cooperation documents in finance, trade, investment, and aviation.
