Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (L) meets with Minister-President of Hessen state Volker Bouffier yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc hailed the important roles played by the states of Hessen and Rheinland-Pfalz in developing Việt Nam-Germany ties during meetings with leaders of the states yesterday.

During a working session with Minister-President of Hessen state Volker Bouffier, the PM asked the state’s authorities to continue encouraging local firms to do long-term business in Việt Nam and provide support for Vietnamese enterprises operating in Hessen such as Vietinbank and FPT. 
The Vietnamese government always supports and creates favourable conditions for firms from Germany in general and Hessen in particular to invest and do long-term business in the country, he said. 

On education-training, the Vietnamese leader spoke highly of the Việt Nam-Germany University (VGU) project and urged Hessen to assist Việt Nam in implementing the next stages of the project, especially in providing curricula to train Vietnamese lecturers for the university. 

Bouffier, for his part, described the VGU project as a typical model of the strategic partnership between Việt Nam and Germany. He praised academic results of Vietnamese students, believing that they would contribute to Việt Nam’s development and global integration. 

The Minister-President expressed his wish to work closely with Việt Nam in the fields of the state’s strength such as education-training, chemicals and mechanical engineering. 
In a meeting with Speaker of the Parliament of Hessen state Norbert Kartmann, PM Phúc appreciated the support of the state’s leaders and parliamentarians in developing relations between Việt Nam and Germany in general, and between Việt Nam and Hessen state in particular.

He asked the leaders and parliamentarians of Hessen to strengthen cooperation between the State Parliament, the Vietnamese National Assembly and People’s Councils of major cities such as Hà Nội, HCM City and central Đà Nẵng City, in sharing experience in building a State of law, making laws, managing public investment, public-private partnership, e-commerce and urban management. 

Kartmann said there is great potential for enterprises of Hessen to invest in Việt Nam, revealing that a number of Hessen companies have effectively operated in Việt Nam. 

Hessen would further contribute to promoting the Strategic Partnership between the two nations, he affirmed. 

Located in central Germany, Hessen state is one of the country’s largest economic hubs and Europe’s strong development areas. The state is known for chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, manufacturing, auto production and engineering. Frankfurt, the state’s largest city and financial hub, is home to headquarters of the European Central Bank, Germany central bank – Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, and branches of over 400 foreign banks. 
 

Earlier, on the same day, during a working session with Minister-President of Rheinland-Pfalz state Malu Dreyer in Mainz City yesterday, the PM urged the German parliament to support the establishment of the Germany-Việt Nam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group to strengthen friendship and co-operation between the two legislatures. 

He lauded the state’s economic strengths in tourism, information technology, chemicals and wine production, and suggested exploring collaboration in workforce development, particularly training Vietnamese nurses in hospitals and medical stations in the state. 

Dreyer, also President of the German Federal Council, hoped that new business opportunities would open up via the visit. 

During a working session with Rheinland-Pfalz state Deputy Minister-President and Minister for Economic Affairs, Transportation, Agriculture and Viniculture Volker Wissing, Phúc affirmed that economic links were a pillar in bilateral ties and there remains room for bilateral economic, trade and investment ties being enhanced. 

The Vietnamese Government was ready to offer favourable conditions to German firms in Việt Nam, contributing to deepening the bilateral strategic partnership, he said. 

German corporations such as Boehringer Ingelheim, BASF and Hornbach also expressed interest in doing business in Việt Nam. 

Rheinland-Pfalz is home to more than 4 million people. Its major economies include tourism, industry, agriculture and forestry. With six viniculture areas, the state is also the leading wine producer in the country.

Later on the same day, PM Phúc left Hessen for Berlin, continuing activities within the framework of his four-day visit to Germany. — VNS