Visits to the Consulate Generals of France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep (right) presents a gift to the Consul General of the Italy in Ho Chi Minh City.

On 08-09 February 2023, a delegation of Can Tho City, led by Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep, Director of the Department of External Relations, paid visits to the Consulate Generals of France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City.

These visits were to strengthen the cooperation between Can Tho City with the diplomatic offices of the above-mentioned countries and to discuss the organization of activities for the 50^th diplomatic relations anniversaries in 2023 between Vietnam and the France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Singapore.

At the Consulate General of the Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City, the two sides agreed on the inauguration ceremony of Vietnam – Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in Can Tho this June. The Consul General of Singapore also informed the delegation of a business forum for Singaporean companies in Hanoi this year as one of the activities of the 50^th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Singapore. Mr. Roy Kho suggested that Can Tho City should participate in this forum to introduce its strengths and opportunities of trade and investment collaboration with Singaporean partners.

Consul General of Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City Mr. Roy Kho with the delegation from Can Tho.

In addition, the two sides discussed courses in Singapore Cooperation Programme, which is very useful for local officials to have short-term trainings in different sectors in Singapore. It was agreed that the City would send its sector priorities to the Consulate General so that the two sides could boost the application interests from local officials.

At the Consulate General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City, the delegation was hosted by Mr. Enrico Padula, the Consul General. The Italian diplomat expressed his support for an event in Can Tho in promoting the Italian culinary culture. The Consulate General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City would also attend the International Agriculture Fair this year in Can Tho, which is scheduled on November 2-6.

Working session with the Consul General of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City.

As for the Netherlands, Can Tho delegation had a fruitful discussion of a series of activities for the 50^th anniversary. The list of proposals included sustainable mobility, nature-based solutions, which are key strengths of the Netherlands and its priorities in Vietnam. Consul General Daniel Stork also suggested to have the collaboration with the Dutch Business Association in Vietnam to organize business activities in Can Tho. The two sides would be in touch to work on detailing the proposed ideas before carrying them out in September this year.

Last but not least, at the Consulate General of France in Ho Chi Minh City, the City delegation was greeted by Ms. Frédérique Horn, Director of French Institute in Ho Chi Minh City. The focus of the discussion was on the Francophone Day in Can Tho in March, which included several different activities from a seminar on teaching and learning French, to dialogues with Francophone authors, and some quizzes and contests for French-speaking students.

Participants of the meeting at the Consulate General of France 

Furthermore, Can Tho was also working with the French Institute in Hanoi to arrange a photo exhibition by a Vietnamese French photographer with the theme of daily life along the Mekong River. The exhibition is currently scheduled in May in Can Tho.