Chief Executive John Lee met the visiting Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Ho Duc Phoc today to discuss deepening the co-operation between Hong Kong and Vietnam.

Welcoming Mr Ho and his delegation to Hong Kong, Mr Lee said that Vietnam is Hong Kong's sixth-largest trading partner with bilateral merchandise trade reaching US$49 billion in the first three quarters this year, a 67% increase compared to the same period last year.

Mr Lee led a high-level business delegation to Vietnam last year, during which both sides signed 30 memoranda of understanding and agreements covering various areas. He expressed confidence that both places will strengthen co-operation with mutual benefits.

Highlighting that the Government has relaxed immigration arrangements for Vietnamese citizens visiting, working or pursuing post-secondary studies in Hong Kong, the Chief Executive said new measures were introduced in March to give convenient immigration arrangements for those invited from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries including Vietnam.

These measures will further promote people-to-people exchanges and bilateral co-operation in trade, professional services and other sectors, he added.

Noting that Hong Kong will actively play "super connector" and "super value-adder" roles and fully leverage its unique advantages of connecting the Mainland and the world under the "one country, two systems" principle, Mr Lee said Hong Kong will promote collaboration with Vietnam in areas such as finance, innovation and technology, trade and the green and digital economy.