(VOVworld)- Germany supports the conclusion of the EU- Vietnam Free Trade Agreement negotiations (EVFTA) this year, German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang on Wednesday.
The same day, a business forum took place in Berlin to look at prospects of cooperation between Vietnam and Germany and of the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Minister Hoang and Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Thi Hoang Anh co-chaired the forum which participated by more than 200 German enterprises and overseas Vietnamese in Germany.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Hoang noted that Germany is currently the largest European trade partner of Vietnam, paving the way for Vietnam to penetrate other European markets.
By the end of May, there were some 230 German projects in Vietnam with a registered capital of 1.246 billion USD. Germany is one of the biggest providers of ODA funds to Vietnam and is cooperating with Vietnam in many fields. Mr. Hoang stressed that there are a lot of good opportunities for the two countries to expand their cooperation, particularly with Vietnam and the EU working hard to conclude EVFTA negotiations this year.