HÀ NỘI – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has said he hopes China’s Hong Kong will establish friendly ties with Vietnamese localities and promote cooperation in investment and trade.
He made the remarks while receiving Chief Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor in Hà Nội yesterday.
The PM expressed his pleasure at the growing economic co-operation between Việt Nam and Hong Kong.
He said the Việt Nam-China partnership has seen positive strides as the two countries’ top leaders enhanced bilateral relations in a stable, healthy and sustainable manner.
He suggested increasing delegation exchanges among Vietnamese and Hong Kong authorities, entrepreneurs, and business associations.
The PM confirmed that Việt Nam will continue facilitating investment by Hong Kong companies in transport, infrastructure, electronic parts, the support industry, processing and the sale of farm produce.
The two sides have potential to boost co-operation in culture, tourism and jobs, he said, proposing Hong Kong expand bilateral collaboration in these realms.
To facilitate people-to-people travel, the PM asked Hong Kong to create favourable conditions for Việt Nam’s airlines to open flights to and stop at Hong Kong airport.
He also suggested the administrative region give more support to the Vietnamese consulate and Vietnamese expatriates.
Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said this is the first time she has visited Việt Nam as Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong.
She expressed her belief in future co-operation between Hong Kong and Việt Nam.
She informed the host about the outcomes of her meetings with senior officials from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, saying there is room for the two sides to increase collaboration.
The Chief Secretary hailed Việt Nam as the third biggest trade partner of Hong Kong in ASEAN, saying she hopes the two sides will expand co-operation to services; especially architecture, construction, investment and finance, as many Hong Kong businesses want to invest in these fields – which contribute 95 per cent of Hong Kong’s gross domestic product.
She took the occasion to thank Prime Minister Phúc for supporting negotiations to sign the free trade agreement between Hong Kong and ASEAN, which she hopes will be concluded at the end of this year.

Also yesterday, Prime Minister Phúc received Chinese Ambassador Hong Xiaoyong at the Government’s headquarters in Hà Nội, noting that Việt Nam places importance on its relations with China.
He stressed that his country considered the reinforcement of friendship and co-operation with the Chinese Party, State and people as one of its top priorities in foreign policy. VNS