Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Bui Xuan Cuong (R) receives Torsten Bonew, Vice Mayor of Leipzig. (Photo: VNA)

In a reception for Torsten Bonew, Vice Mayor of Leipzig, who is leading a delegation to attend the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum 2024, Cuong suggested the two cities expand cooperation in developing sustainable energy sources such as wind and solar power.

He thanked the Leipzig authorities for supporting Ho Chi Minh City in training personnel, sending experts to share experiences with hospitals, cooperating with the Vietnamese locality in clean water supply, and setting up a rehabilitation laboratory at the Institute of Biomedical Physics.

With the similarities between the two sides and strengths of Leipzig, Cuong proposed the two localities cooperate in addressing climate change and energy transition, saying that Ho Chi Minh City will focus on addressing issues related to challenges in urban areas such as traffic congestion, climate change, environmental pollution, flood reduction, and clean water supply.

The Ho Chi Minh City official said he hopes that Leipzig will continue connecting and supporting German businesses operating in terms of digital transformation, financial management, science and technology, and innovative startups to promote cooperation with and increase investment in Ho Chi Minh City.

He stated that the municipal authorities are committed to creating favourable conditions for foreign businesses, including those from Leipzig, to invest in the city.

For his part, Bonew expressed his joy at specific cooperation projects that the two cities have implemented, saying that he is impressed by the development of Vietnam as well as Ho Chi Minh City in recent times.

Businesses in Leipzig are very interested in the environment for investment cooperation in Ho Chi Minh City, he said, adding that the establishment of Leipzig’s representative office in the city is a testament to this.

He urged the two cities to further strengthen cooperation in potential areas, contributing to stepping up their relationship towards the 50th founding anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Germany next year.