Chairman of HCM City People's Committee Nguyễn Văn Được (left) congratulated US Ambassador Marc Knapper and Consul General Susan Burns. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The US Consulate General in Hồ Chí Minh City hosted a ceremony on June 27 to mark the 249th anniversary of the US Independence Day (July 4), underscoring the growing strength and depth of Việt Nam-US relations.

In his address, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyễn Văn Được highlighted the robust trade between the city and the US, which topped US$10.7 billion in 2024, a sharp 42 per cent hike from a year before. The US is pumping US$1.4 billion into 680 projects across the city.

Locality-to-locality cooperation continues to play a crucial role in bolstering people-to-people exchanges, a key foundation for the Việt Nam-US comprehensive strategic partnership, especially amid today’s complex global landscape, Được said.

He believed that with businesses, local authorities, and citizens working in harmony, both countries would unlock shared potential for common development and prosperity, making the partnership increasingly practical, effective, and enduring.

US Consul General Susan Burns called the event a powerful reminder of the deepening bilateral relationship and an opportunity to honour the joint efforts in building mutual trust and understanding and advancing people-to-people diplomacy.

She pointed to US companies and organisations racing to invest in Việt Nam, particularly in Hồ Chí Minh City as a proof of the bond’s depth and importance. She looked ahead with confidence, reaffirming a shared commitment to building a better future together. — VNS