West Australia, HCM City seek closer partnership

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem has a meeting with Peter Tinley, Minister for Housing, Veterans Issues, Youth and Asian Engagement of West Australia state,  in HCMC, April 22, 2019

At the reception, Peter Tinley said that this is his first visit to HCM City as the role of the Minister for Housing, Veterans Issues, Youth and Asian Engagement, which aims to expand partnership between his state and Vietnamese localities and enterprises.

He said that West Australia has strength in liquefied petroleum gas and agriculture, and is willing to partner with Vietnamese agencies and localities, including HCM City.

The Vietnamese community in West Australia is dynamic with close connectivity in production and business, he said, pledging that West Australia is always creating optimal conditions for the community and other communities to settle down in the state.

In turn, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem said that over the past years, the city has paid great attention to fostering partnership between the city and Australian states.

To date, HCM City has set up friendship ties with Australia’s Northern Territory, and signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with New South Wales, he noted.

He briefed the guest on the city’s socio-economic situation, saying that Australia is the 17th largest foreign investor in HCM City with 182 projects worth nearly US$ 200 million and two-way trade reaching nearly  US$ 980 million.

Last year, HCM City welcomed nearly 310,000 Australian visitors, he said, stressing that potential for trade cooperation between the city and Australia and West Australia in particular remains huge.

Viet Nam opened a Consulate General in Perth city of West Australia, which will help connect the city and West Australia, Liem said.

Noting that many Vietnamese people are living, studying and working in West Australia, Liem expressed his hope that the local government will continue supporting the Vietnamese community here.

By Vien Nhu