Courtesy call by Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam

On the 28 February 2022, H.E. Meynardo LB. Montealegre, Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam paid a courtesy call on the leader of Can Tho City. Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee hosted the call, together with the participants from the Department of External Relations, Department of Education and Training, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the City Union of Friendship Organizations.

The Ambassador expressed his impression on a progressive Can Tho despite his short time in the city, and told the city leader that he had planned to visit Can Tho in March last year, after he presented the letter of credence to the State President; however, due to travel restrictions during COVID-19 period, the diplomat could not make it to Can Tho.

Ambassador Montealegre briefed the Vice Chairman on the relations between Vietnam and the Philippines, especially the close ties after the two countries elevated their relations to Strategic Partnership in 2015. In terms of trade, the Philippines is one of the major markets for rice export from Vietnam. The Ambassador was also pleased to know Can Tho had worked closely with the Philippine Honorary Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City to organize people-to-people exchanges and cultural activities to promote the friendship of the two peoples. Ambassador Montealegre also suggested the establishment of sister city relations between Can Tho and one city in the Philippines, based on the similarities and mutual benefits of the two sides.

For his part, Vice Chairman Nguyen Thuc Hien informed the Philippine diplomat on the investment and trade activities between Can Tho City and Philippine partners. In 2021, the export turnover in the Philippine market was 165.12 million USD, while the import turnover was 1.06 million USD. Major products for import and export include rice, aquaculture products, textile, and pharmaceutical ingredients, among others.

On the 28 February 2022, H.E. Meynardo LB. Montealegre, Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam paid a courtesy call on the leader of Can Tho City. Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee hosted the call, together with the participants from the Department of External Relations, Department of Education and Training, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the City Union of Friendship Organizations.

The Ambassador expressed his impression on a progressive Can Tho despite his short time in the city, and told the city leader that he had planned to visit Can Tho in March last year, after he presented the letter of credence to the State President; however, due to travel restrictions during COVID-19 period, the diplomat could not make it to Can Tho.

Ambassador Montealegre briefed the Vice Chairman on the relations between Vietnam and the Philippines, especially the close ties after the two countries elevated their relations to Strategic Partnership in 2015. In terms of trade, the Philippines is one of the major markets for rice export from Vietnam. The Ambassador was also pleased to know Can Tho had worked closely with the Philippine Honorary Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City to organize people-to-people exchanges and cultural activities to promote the friendship of the two peoples. Ambassador Montealegre also suggested the establishment of sister city relations between Can Tho and one city in the Philippines, based on the similarities and mutual benefits of the two sides.

For his part, Vice Chairman Nguyen Thuc Hien informed the Philippine diplomat on the investment and trade activities between Can Tho City and Philippine partners. In 2021, the export turnover in the Philippine market was 165.12 million USD, while the import turnover was 1.06 million USD. Major products for import and export include rice, aquaculture products, textile, and pharmaceutical ingredients, among others.

Vice Chairman Nguyen also shared his pride when he briefed the Philippine ambassador the active collaboration with the Philippine Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City to carry out cultural and people-to-people exchanges in Can Tho in the past few years. He supported the idea of a sister city with one Philippine city, with the suggestion and introduction from the Embassy of the Philippines in Hanoi. In addition, the city leader emphasized his keen to collaborate with the Embassy to organize a cultural week of the Philippines in Can Tho. This activity would be an outstanding event to promote the relations between Can Tho and Philippine partners, as well as raise awareness of local citizens on the country and people of the Philippines.

The two sides also agreed to enhance the investment and trade activities, and educational exchanges for local students.

In the afternoon of the same day, Ambassador Montealegre attended another meeting at the City Union of Friendship Organizations with the Vietnam – Philippines Friendship Association (Association). The Ambassador learned that there were approximately 150 members in the Association, all of them had spent their time studying and working in the Philippines. Members of the Association also had the opportunity to present to the diplomat their initiatives of organizing activities to strengthen the relations between Can Tho and Philippine partners; among them, there were ideas of an educational workshop on studying English in the Philippines, and a Philippine cultural week in Can Tho. The diplomat was also pleased to learn that the Association members had close cooperation with Philippine NGOs and enterprises to implement capacity building activities for local farmers in biodiversity preservation and climate change adaptation.

Ambassador Montealegre expressed his willingness to come back to Can Tho for his further visits and participate in cooperation activities between the City and Philippine partners.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Thuc Hien (middle) takes a group photo with the Philippine Ambassador (fourth from left) after the courtesy call.

Working session with the Philippine Ambassador at the Union of Friendship Organizations.