Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception for Chief Secretary of the Hongkong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor
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The Government leader expressed his pleasure at the rapid and stable developments of Vietnam-Hongkong economic, trade and investment cooperation over the past years. Both sides need to increase delegation exchanges between each other’s authorities, enterprises and business associations in order to further bilateral ties, he said, noting that Viet Nam will continue facilitating Hong Kong companies’ investment in Viet Nam’s transport, infrastructure, electronic spare parts, the support industry, processing and consumption of farm produce.
The PM called for bilateral relations in the potential fields of culture, tourism and employment, asking the Hong Kong side to consider expanding cooperation in these domains. To facilitate people-to-people travel, he suggested Hongkong create favorable conditions for Vietnam’s airlines to launch air routes as well as have stops at Hongkong’s airports.
Hongkong Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said this is the first time she has visited Vietnam in her position, while expressing her belief in the future cooperation between Vietnam and Hongkong. The guest briefed the host on the outcomes of her meetings with leaders of Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, noting that the two sides possess numerous potential for collaboration in economics, trade and tourism.
Hailing Vietnam as Hongkong’s third largest trade partner in ASEAN, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor called for acceleration of bilateral ties in the service sector. A number of Hong Kong businesses are eyeing investment in Viet Nam, particularly in the field of services, which contributes 95% to Hong Kong’s gross domestic product (GDP).
She also took the occasion to thank PM Phuc for actively supporting the negotiations on signing the free trade agreement between Hong Kong and ASEAN, which she hopes will be finalized by the end of this year. She expressed her hope that the two countries will strengthen political trust between their senior leaders and facilitate collaboration in other domains, including trade, investment and people-to-people exchange, contributing to making more practical development steps in their relationship.
Concerning the East Sea issue, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc talked to Hongkong Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor that he called on both sides to control sea-related disagreements and not to let such matters affect the traditional friendly relations between the two Parties, States and peoples.
PM Phuc suggested the two countries persistently resolve disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); control disagreements and avoid the actions that further complicate and expand the disputes in the East Sea; join ASEAN nations to fully and effectively enforce the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon finalize a Code of Conduct (COC); and maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.
