Hanoi (VNA) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz andhis high-ranking entourage left Hanoi on November 14 morning, concludinga two-day official visit to Vietnam.

During the trip, Chancellor Scholz held talks with with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, made a courtesy call to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and attended a roundtableconference with Vietnamese and German enterprises.

During the meeting with the German guest, Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong stated Vietnam attaches greatimportance to its strategic partnership with Germany, and proposed the twocountries maintain and build on the achievements gained over the past time, andcontinue enhancing collaboration, for the benefits of their people, and forpeace, cooperation and development in the region and in the world.

For his part, Scholz affirmed Germany treasures thebilateral strategic partnership, as well as Vietnam’s international role and position,including its role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

At his talks with PM Chinh in Hanoi on November 13, the two Government leaders defined major directions and measures to advance thebilateral cooperation. They agreed to increase the exchange of visits at alllevels and through all channels such as the Parties, States, Governments, andparliaments while continuing to effectively carry out bilateral cooperationmechanisms.

Vietnam and Germany will step up coordination to jointlyaddress global challenges such as food security and climate change response, andwill continue with their close coordination and mutual support at international forums andorganisations, especially in promoting ASEAN’s relations with Germany and theEU, and strengthening bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Asia -Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the United Nations.

The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of ensuring peace,stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in theEast Sea, and peacefully resolving disputes in accordance with internationallaw and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Following the talks, the two leaders met with the press, highlightingtheir agreement on deepening the strategic partnership for each nation’s sustainabledevelopment and interests, and for peace, cooperation and development in theregion and in the world.

They also co-chaired a business roundtable conference between Vietnamand Germany, during which PM Chinh encouraged German companies to switch theirinvestment to Vietnam, a safe and attractive investment destination withpolitical stability, competitive costs, an abundant workforce, and an optimalbusiness climate.

The German leader gave some cooperation suggestions to thecountries’ businesses, hoping the conference to help enterprises of thecountries find opportunities for investment, trade, and bilateral cooperation./.