Beijing (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador to ChinaPham Sao Mai had a meeting with Mayor of Shanghai Gong Zheng on October 9,expressing his hope for stronger relations between the Chinese city andVietnamese localities.

Ambassador Mai congratulated Shanghai on its majorachievements in socio-economic development, especially in the COVID-19 containmentand economic recovery, emphasising that the Vietnamese Party, Government andpeople attaches great importance to the comprehensive strategic cooperativepartnership with the Chinese Party, Government and people.

Voicing his delight at the unceasingly developing friendshipand win-win cooperation between Vietnamese localities and Shanghai, heexpressed his hope that the two sides will continue promoting mutuallybeneficial connections.

He asked the Shanghai administration to keep providingfavourable conditions for Vietnamese citizens, especially students, to resideand learn in the city, as well as for businesses of Vietnam to carry outinvestment and trade promotion activities.

The diplomat also suggested Shanghai enterprisesimport more goods from Vietnam and invited local firms toboost investment in Vietnam in the fields matching their strength and theSoutheast Asian nation’s demand, particularly projects applying advanced and environmentally friendly technologies.

Mayor Gong Zheng also noted with satisfaction the upwardtrend of China-Vietnam relations, affirming that his city treasures and wishes tofoster the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnamese localities,including Ho Chi Minh City.

He held that there remains much potential and room for thecooperation between Shanghai and localities of Vietnam, highlighting thereadiness to create optimal conditions for more Vietnamese firms to invest anddo business in Shanghai.

The official also invited Vietnam to take part in the third ChinaInternational Import Expo to be held in Shanghai in early November and HCM Cityto join in the 10th China Flower Expo, slated for May 2021 in thiscity.

The mayor also accepted the invitation to visit Vietnam in asuitable point of time.

Shanghai is one of the localities taking the lead in reform,opening and economic development in China. It is striving to become aninternational centre in terms of economy, trade, finance, transport andscience-technology.

Trade between Shanghai and Vietnam has grown fast in recentyears, reaching 13.2 billion USD in 2019 (up 39.3 percent year on year) and 7.5billion USD in the first half of 2020 (up 44.7 percent)./.