Hungarian NA Speaker lauds Ho Chi Minh City’s impressive growth over past decade

Kövér made the remarks during a meeting with Vo Van Minh, chairman of the municipal People's Council, on Saturday evening as part of his official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Both Minh and Kövér praised the growing partnership between Vietnam and Hungary, which they said has brought tangible benefits to the peoples of the two nations.

Kövér thanked the city's leaders for their warm and cordial welcome, saying he was delighted to visit again and witness the country's outstanding growth.

"Ten years ago, I visited Vietnam for the first time and was already impressed by the development I saw," he said.

"This time, even after only a few hours here, I can see that Ho Chi Minh City has made tremendous leaps forward.

"Many projects are underway, and there are ambitious plans to further modernize this city."

Recalling his fond memories of his student days and friendships with Vietnamese peers, Kövér highlighted education as one of the most successful areas of cooperation between Hungary and Vietnam.

He congratulated Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City in particular, on their remarkable and meaningful achievements in the renewal process, which have strengthened the nation's potential, position, and international reputation.

Affirming that Hungary values its traditional friendship with Vietnam and regards the country as its leading partner in Southeast Asia, Kövér said Hungary continues to encourage its businesses to seek investment opportunities in Vietnam, especially in Ho Chi Minh City.

He pledged to accompany Vietnam and the city in implementing future cooperation initiatives, expressing hope that local authorities would continue to create favorable conditions for Hungarian enterprises to develop partnerships that benefit the peoples of both nations.

For his part, Minh said he was pleased to welcome the Hungarian NA Speaker to the city at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

He noted that ties between Vietnam and Hungary have grown increasingly close and robust, as reflected in the recent visits of high-ranking Hungarian leaders, including President Sulyok Tamas and his spouse in late May.

Introducing the city's socio-economic development, Minh said that following its recent administrative merger, Ho Chi Minh City has significantly expanded its development space.

The city aims to maintain an annual growth rate of over 10 percent, rank among the world's top 100 most livable cities, and successfully establish itself as an international financial center.

With its advantages in economic scale, technological infrastructure, and human resources, Ho Chi Minh City welcomes Hungarian enterprises to invest and conduct business in the city, he said.

The city leader also expressed a desire to strengthen cooperation in areas of shared potential and strength such as biotechnology, advanced technology, sports, culture, and human resource training.

He emphasized the importance of enhancing friendship and exchanges between Ho Chi Minh City and Hungarian localities, noting that the municipality has maintained a sister-city relationship with Hungary's capital, Budapest, since 2015.

During his stay, Kövér visited the memorial stupa dedicated to Hungarian orientalist scholar Sándor Kőrösi Csoma in Vung Tau Ward, where he laid flowers in tribute to the scholar and expressed appreciation for the city's efforts to preserve this symbolic Hungarian landmark.