Talking to newly-elected mayor Tobias Kascha and his predecessorPeter Gaffert, Ambassador Minh emphasised the huge potential for further acceleratingpartnership between Wernigerode and Hoi An as well as other Vietnameselocalities.
The bilateral relations will be built on the solidfoundation of the Vietnam – Germany strategic partnership which has beengrowing strong in all areas, from economy, energy, environment, education-training,to culture and science-technology, over the last 12 years, he said.
Wernigerode and Hoi An set up a sister-city relationship in2013, he recalled, since then, the first has provided support for the latter inmany major projects, for example, developing a solar power system at Song Hoai(Hoai River) Square, promoting efficient use of renewable energy, and minimisingwaste, among others.
He called on enterprises from the German city to exploreinvestment opportunity in Vietnam to reap benefits from the EU-Vietnam FreeTrade Agreement (EVFTA).
As Wernigerode and Hoi An are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their ties next year, the ambassador proposed the two sides toorganise several activities for promotion of trade, investment and tourism.
Former mayor Gaffert affirmed that maintain the sister-cityrelations with Hoi An was among his city’s top priorities and a major highlightduring his term of office. He expected the new mayor will facilitate thefurther development of the bilateral ties. He suggested the two sides furtherexpand ties in vocational training, tourism services, hospitality and handicraftmaking.
Kascha, for his part, pledged to foster the sister-cityrelations in a long term during his upcoming sever years in office.
On the visit, Ambassador Minh also visited a German mechaniccorporation and representatives of Vietnamese community in Wernigerode./.