The Office of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and the Consulate General of the UK in the city on January 3 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in implementing the future global city programme, which aims to turn the city into a smart city, in the 2019-2022 period.
HCM City (VNA) – The Office ofthe People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and the Consulate General of the UKin the city on January 3 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) oncooperation in implementing the future global city programme, which aims toturn the city into a smart city, in the 2019-2022 period.
The signing ceremony, held in Ho Chi MinhCity, was attended by Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Tran VinhTuyen and UK Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field.
Under the MoU, the two sides will coordinatein launching a project to apply smart tickets in public transportation vehiclesin the city and develop a geographical information system for the drainage networkof the city.
At a meeting with the UK official prior tothe signing, Tuyen thanked the UK Consulate General in the city for promotingthe partnership between the city and the UK, especially in cooperationprogrammes supported by the UK’s Commonwealth Fund.
He said that Ho Chi Minh City is calling forinvestment in sub-projects of a project to develop smart city, and hopes togather financial support and consultations from the UK side.
The city is also implementing technologicalsolution packages to deal with urgent matters in transport, health care, andurban environment, he said, expressing his hope to learn from the UK’sexperience in the fields.
Lauding education and training developmentof the UK, the city official proposed that Field help encourage UK universitiesto collaborate with their peers in the city and increase scholarships forstudents from Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in particular.
For his part, Field showed his impression atthe development of the city, reaffirming the UK Government’s wish to strengthenaffiliation with Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City, especially in trade, investmentand people-to-people exchange.
He held that the British Business Group inVietnam based in Ho Chi Minh City is a good condition for the UK and the cityto promote their bilateral trade and investment ties.
Congratulating the city on finishing thefirst phase of the smart city project, he pledged that the UK will continue towork with the city in the field, especially in technological solutions toresponding to flooding and smart urban transportation.
He expressed his hope that HCM City will makeit easy for the British Business Group in Vietnam to set up a centre to supportsmall- and medium-sized enterprises and startup firms of the UK to invest inthe city.-VNA
Cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and UK partners will help consolidate the friendship between Vietnam and the UK and lift bilateral relations to a new level, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan said.
Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan hosted a reception on September 19 for UK Ambassador to Vietnam Giles Lever, who noted British firms’ intention to expand operations in the city.
Ho Chi Minh City is willing to share experience with elected agencies of the United Kingdom in professional work and election organisation, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Council Truong Thi Anh has stated.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
At the signing ceremony (Photo: VNA) 
