At the opening ceremony of the festival. Photo: VNA

The event, from July 28-30, was held by the HCM City People’s Committee in coordination with the Vietnamese Embassy in France and Portugal, and Porto authorities, VietnamPlus reported.

It was the biggest trade, investment, tourism and culture promotion ever launched by HCM City in Europe this year, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Duong Anh Duc said in his opening remarks, informing that HCM City and Porto have just signed a memorandum of understanding on establishing friendship and cooperation.

The festival was expected to be held annually to bring Vietnam’s southern metropolis closer to international friends and tighten the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular with countries worldwide, including Portugal, he added.

Porto Mayor Rui Moreira highlighted the potential for Vietnam and Portugal to intensify their cooperation, as well as their goodwill in strengthening the bilateral trade ties.

The official expressed his hope that the festival will contribute to consolidating the relations between Porto and Vietnamese localities while promoting new strengths in the areas that have great economic, scientific, and environmental potential.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France and Portugal Dinh Toan Thang said festival-goers should use the occasion to establish new partnerships, consolidate existing relations and build a long-term friendship.

Apart from various performances by Vietnamese and Portuguese artists, the festival also introduced Vietnamese agricultural products, handicrafts, traditional costumes, and folk games, and featured a photo exhibition capturing HCM City’s development and integration.

Apart from various performances by Vietnamese and Portuguese artists, the festival also introduced Vietnamese agricultural products, handicrafts, traditional costumes and folk games. Photo: VNA

The highlight of the festival was an economic cooperation forum organized by the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of HCM City, with the participation of more than 100 business representatives from HCM City, Porto and neighboring European countries, along with Vietnamese trade counselors.

At the forum, leaders of the two cities introduced their economic overviews and policy environment to attract investment, as well as potentials for cooperation in several fields, including services, tourism, and culture of each locality, Nhan dan (People) Newspaper said.

The Vietnamese trade representative in France and Portugal also provided information on opportunities and challenges of the host country market, as well as notes for Vietnamese businesses that want to do business in Europe in general or in Portugal in particular.

Delegates attend the economic cooperation forum between Ho Chi Minh City and Portugal’s Porto city. Photo: NDO

José Pedro Busano de Sousa Vieira, Chairman of the Portuguese Cultural Association, expressed his delight at the freshly signed MoU on cooperation between the two cities in the 2023-2025 period, thus contributing to promoting the ties of the localities.

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Duong Anh Duc said he believes that along with the free trade agreement between the European Union and Vietnam (EVFTA), the recently signed trade deal between the two localities will be an important premise for further improving the efficiency of cooperation between the two cities, as well as with other localities of Portugal and the EU.

He affirmed that the city administration will constantly improve its investment environment and accompany foreign enterprises in the process of effective, safe and long-term investment, production and business in the locality./.

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