Mayor Kep Chuk Tema made the pledge during talks with visiting Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Le Thanh Hai in Phnom Penh on April 26.

Mr Hai said relevant agencies and businesses of both cities have spared no efforts to implement the cooperation agreements reached between the two cities. The HCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) has organised annual trade promotion events between the two cities such as the High-quality Vietnamese Goods Fair in Phnom Penh, the Strong Trademark Fair and the Vietnam-Cambodia Export Fair.

The HCM City official noted that many cooperation projects between the two cities have paid off. They include a joint venture contract to process foodstuff between the Saigon Trade Corporation and the Sokimex Group, a contract to supply fertilizers and transfer technological advances in agricultural production between the Binh Dien Fertilizers Company and the Jitak Group and a programme to conduct cataract surgery for Cambodians. HCM City is helping Phnom Penh build a hospital named after its sister hospital Cho Ray.

Earlier, the HCM City delegation was received by King Norodom Sihamoni who reaffirmed Cambodia’s determination to expand neighbourly relations with Vietnam.