At the working session between Consul General of Vietnam in Hong Kong and Macau (China) Pham Binh Dam and representatives from the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute. (Photo: VNA)

Hong Kong - Consul General of Vietnam in Hong Kong and Macau (China) Pham Binh Dam has visited the Macau Special Administrative Region for the first time since it reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the trip from April 13-14, Dam held a working session with Ho Iat Seng, Chief Executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region, who appreciated cooperation between Macau and Vietnam in various fields, especially trade, labour, tourism and investment.

He stressed that many Vietnamese products are favoured by Macau people, while Vietnamese workers are skilled and hard-working, and have made positive contributions to Macau's economy, and also actively participated in local cultural activities.

As Vietnam’s economy has maintained impressive growth over the past years despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Macau businesses have paid attention to and want to expand cooperation with Vietnam, he added.

Dam thanked the Macau administration for caring and creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese people to work and live in Macau, especially during the pandemic.

The Consul General also made a series of proposals on expanding the reception of Vietnamese workers, actively exchanging business delegations, participating in trade events organised by the two sides, and coordinating to well handle emerging issues related to labourers and the removal of visa restrictions for Vietnamese visitors.

At his working session with representatives of the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), Dam said that the potential for cooperation between Macau and Vietnam is huge and has not been fully tapped.

He encouraged Macau and Vietnamese businesses to explore cooperation opportunities through visits or participation in trade fairs in both Vietnam and Macau. The Consulate General of Vietnam in Hong Kong and Macau is always willing to help connect and support businesses of the two sides.

The Consul General also met with leading officials of the Vietnamese Association in Macau. Currently, there are about 7,000 Vietnamese people living and working in Macau, down more than a half compared to the pre-pandemic period, with an average income of 500-1,000 USD per month.

He also had meetings with leaders of Galaxy Entertainment Group and Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited.