Consul General Le Duc Hanh highlighted Vietnam’s achievements since independence, from colonial rule and wartime hardship to becoming a middle-income country and an active player in global integration. She affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of valuing stable and healthy relations with China as a strategic choice and top priority, in line with the country’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development, as well as commitment to diversification and multilateralism of external ties.
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Consul General Le Duc Hanh (centre), Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee Ka-chiu (left) at the grand ceremony on August 28 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Việt Nam's National Day. |
The Vietnam – China relations have maintained robust growth through exchanges and contact between the two Parties and Governments, the diplomat said, noting the special bonds with Hong Kong as a solid basis for the rosy cooperation over the recent past, with two-way trade in the first half of this year surging by more than 63% year-on-year, Vietnamese tourist arrivals to Hong Kong doubling in 2024, and education collaboration and cultural exchange flourishing.
Hong Kong is a super-connector that helps bring Vietnamese goods into the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area, China’s vast market, and the global supply chain, Hanh stressed, adding Vietnam stands as both a promising destination for investment and a market for Hong Kong’s goods and services.
She expressed hope that Hong Kong would further facilitate trade and people-to-people exchanges, including the expansion of work visas to maximize the complementary nature of the two economies.
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee Ka-chiu congratulated Vietnam on its transformation into a dynamic economy in Asia and the world, emphasizing the deep historical ties between the two sides. He noted Hong Kong's connection to the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam 95 years ago under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh.
He highlighted the strengthening relationship through over 30 cooperation agreements signed during his 2024 visit to Vietnam. Last year, Vietnam was Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner in ASEAN and sixth largest globally, while Hong Kong ranked among Vietnam's top foreign investors. Hong Kong is a bridge between the Vietnamese and Chinese markets, with about 10% of trade moving through the region.
Under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, Hong Kong offers both the advantages of being part of China and a global hub, with a friendly business environment, he said, underscoring recent visa policy relaxations for ASEAN citizens.
At the event, attended by officials, diplomats, and members of the Vietnamese community, there were also cultural performances and the showcase of Vietnamese cuisine.
Source: VNA