Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang on July 31 suggested Vietnam and China’s Hong Kong to deepen and improve the quality and efficacy of their cooperation in key areas of economy-trade, tourism, education, science technology, law enforcement and citizen protection.

During his talks with Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee Ka-chiu, who is paying an official visit to Vietnam from July 31 to August 2, Deputy PM Quang expressed his hope that Lee’s trip will be an important milestone to bolster mutual cooperation.

He welcomed Hong Kong groups and enterprises to engage in the Vietnamese market, carry out high-quality investment projects, and enhance import of Vietnamese goods, urging the administration to continue creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese people there, granting more scholarships to Vietnamese students, and joining hands with Vietnam to prevent illegal activities.

He suggested both sides bolster collaboration in multilateral mechanisms and forums, and asked for Hong Kong’s support and close ordination during Vietnam’s hosting of APEC 2027.

Lee, for his part, expressed his delight to make his first official visit to Vietnam, adding that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has attached much importance to the win-win cooperation with Vietnam, and stands ready to enhance the collaboration, bringing substantive benefits to the people and business communities of both sides.

At the talks, the two officials expressed their satisfaction with the robust development and positive results of the Vietnam – Hong Kong ties over time, with economy-trade, investment and tourism being the highlights.

Vietnam is currently the second largest trade partner of Hong Kong in ASEAN, and seventh internationally. Meanwhile, Hong Kong is the seventh biggest trade partner, and fifth largest investor of Vietnam.

They agreed to continue capitalising on opportunities, potential and advantages, and expand cooperation for mutual benefits and development.

Lee recommended the two sides maintain exchanges and contacts at all levels, and welcomed Vietnam’s participation in the 9th Belt and Road Summit held in Hong Kong. He also suggested increasing discussion on cooperation across finance, trade, investment, transport service, digital and green economy, and science-technology.

Vietnam should facilitate Hong Kong’s expansion of investment in the country, and Hong Kong should strengthen its role as a super-connector to develop bilateral economic cooperation in a more effective and substantive manner, he said, hoping for enhanced people-to-people exchanges, and tourism and education activities.

Lee took the occasion to invite Quang to visit Hong Kong at a suitable time.

At the end of the talks, the Deputy PM and the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents in the fields of finance, trade, investment and aviation between agencies and enterprises from the two sides./.