HCM City (VNA) - HCM City attaches great importance to cooperation with andsupport from foreign partners, including those from the Republic of Korea(RoK), in the process of becoming a financial, economic, and technologicalcentre, Chairman of the municipal People’sCommittee Nguyen Thanh Phong has said.

During an online working session with the Mayor of Daegu city in the RoK, KwonYoung-jin, on September 14, Phong congratulated the city on being recognised asa smart city and expressed a hope that it will expand cooperation and share itsexperience with HCM City in this regard, especially in developing informationinfrastructure, databases, and cyber security.

HCM City is also ready to cooperate with Daegu in areas where the latterpossesses strengths, such as water treatment and tourism, he added.

He spoke of the effective measures adopted by HCM City to contain the spread ofCOVID-19 and its efforts to recover economic growth.

Noting proposals from the mayor, Phong said he will soon instruct relevant agenciesto conduct online exchanges and cement cooperative programmes between the twosides, which will be implemented when the pandemic is under control.

HCM City will ask the Ministry of Transport to pay due regard to a proposalfrom the mayor to open a direct air route between Daegu and Vietnam’s southern economichub, Phong said, while expressing his belief that with efforts anddetermination from both sides the relationship will be stronger in the time tocome.

For his part, Mayor Kwon affirmed that Daegu is willing to share its experienceand hopes to contribute to and support smart city development in HCM City.

Hethanked HCM City leaders for their interest in supporting and promotingcooperation between the two localities, saying that given the pandemic, onlinemeeting and exchange activities are key channels to call for investment andinternational cooperation.

He suggested the two cities organise online meetings on specific cooperationactivities for deployment as soon as restrictions are removed.

Kwon committed to promoting cooperation programmes with HCM City in the fieldsof health and tourism, and to foster investment cooperation in the areas ofwater treatment immediately after the pandemic is controlled./.