Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam attaches importance to the traditional relationshipwith Germany and wishes to further enhance bilateral collaboration, especiallyin economy and trade.

Nguyen Van Binh, head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s EconomicCommission, made the statement at a reception for German Ambassador to VietnamChristian Berger in Hanoi on November 1.

Germany is now the largest trade partner of Vietnam in the European Union (EU) inparticular and Europe in general, with two-way trade in the first nine monthsof this year hitting nearly 8 billion USD, an increase of 11 percentyear-on-year, he said.

The Vietnamese official expressed his wish that Germany and EU member countrieswill support the Europe-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), saying that theearly signing and adoption of the deal will be a significant step to realisethe EU’s Europe-Asia connectivity strategy as well as boost Vietnam-Germanyrelations.

He hoped that Christian Berger will make active contributions to developing thebilateral ties in an effective and practical manner.

For his part, the ambassador spoke highly of the important achievements Vietnamhas made in its socio-economic development, affirming that Germany alwaystreasures the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam.

He said his country wishes to actively support and foster the relationship betweenVietnam and the EU, including the early signing of the EVFTA.-VNA