Vietnam, China look for stronger trade ties

During a meeting with visiting Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Chen Wu in Hanoi on April 20, Minister Anh praised the leading role of Guangxi in cooperating with Vietnam in many fields, and Vietnamese localities in particular in Vietnam, especially in economy and trade.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) attaches special importance to developing cooperation with Guangxi, and considers the locality an important bridge connecting Vietnam with the Chinese market, he said, adding that Vietnam is willing to become a bridge helping Guangxi as well as other Chinese localities boost bonds with other Southeast Asian markets.

He took the occasion to ask the Guangxi side to urge China's quarantine agency to expeditiously complete the risk assessment procedures, thus allowing Vietnam to officially export milk and dairy products, fruits, pigs and pork to China.

Chen, for his part, said the two should strengthen the construction and connection of border gates, and increase the trade facilitation in order to meet the increasing demand of goods exchange between their enterprises, he stressed.

Chen proposed the two sides to boost research and development of the “One-stop-shop clearance” model for some commodities such as watermelons and dragon fruits of Vietnam exported through the pairs of Huu Nghi-Huu Nghi Quan (Friendship-Friendship Gate) border gate; and Mong Cai - Dongxing border gate, making it easier for import and export activities between the two nations.

The annual China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) held in Guangxi is a great opportunity for Vietnamese and Chinese businesses to promote cooperation, he noted.

According statistics of the Guangxi side, Vietnam is the largest trade partner of Guangxi for many consecutive years. Their two-way trade always accounts for about one third of the total trade between the two nations. In 2017, trade between Vietnam and Guangxi hit US$24.12 billion, up 0.4% year-on-year, of which Guangxi’s exports to Vietnam reached over US$13.77 billion, down 0.7%, while its import from Vietnam was over US$10.35 billion, up 2%.