(VOVworld) – The year 2016 saw effective cooperation between HCM City and international partners, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City’s municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong made the remark at a meeting with representatives from foreign agencies on the occasion of the Lunar New Year.

Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City’s municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong speaks at the meeting (Source: VNA)

He highlighted effective external activities in politics and diplomacy, economics, and culture last year. In the APEC year of 2017, HCM City will host the Conference of Senior Officials and the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Ministerial Meeting. HCM City is developing a smart city plan, promoting technological application in manufacturing and trading, and building a startup ecology. Mr. Phong said he hopes HCM City can collaborate with experienced foreign partners to become a major centre of finance, trade, science and technology in Southeast Asia.