Hanoi (VNA) – A conference reviewing cooperationbetween Vietnamese ministries, localities and Guangdong province of China washeld in virtual form on June 29 under the chair of Vietnamese Deputy ForeignMinister Pham Quang Hieu and Guangdong’s Vice Governor Wang Xi.

Opening the conference, the eighth of its kind, Deputy FM Hieu expressed joy at thepositive developments in the Vietnam-China relationship in general and betweenVietnamese ministries, localities and Guangdong in particular.

Guangdong has the biggest trade revenue with Vietnam among Chinese localities,with bilateral trade up 16.2 percent in 2021 to 47.42 billion USD, accountingfor more than one quarter of Vietnam-China trade value.

Guangdong companies invested nearly 2 billion USD in Vietnam in 2019-2020.  

Deputyminister Hieu said amidst fast developments in global and regional economicsituation, the two sides should actively seek new fields and modes for theircooperation with a view to optimizing their respective potential and strengthsas well as new-generation free trade agreements in the region.

He suggested the two sides increase exchange and contact at all levels andactively promote the connectivity of development strategies between the “Twocorridors - One belt” and “Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area”frameworks.

The Vietnamese official also proposed enhancing land, railway, maritime andaviation transport connectivity so as to ensure stability of supply andproduction chains in the two countries and the region, along with expandingcollaboration in supporting industry, hi-tech agriculture, digital economy ande-commerce.

Hieuaffirmed that Vietnam welcomes and creates favourable conditions for foreigninvestors, including those from Guangdong, to expand their investment inVietnam in hi-tech and environmentally-friendly projects. He asked Guangdongauthorities to continue facilitating and increase the import of Vietnamese agro-forestry-fisheryproducts.   

Vice Governor of Guangdong Wang Xi affirmed that his province attaches specialimportance to developing the friendship and substantive cooperation withVietnamese ministries and localities.

He noted that the official coming into effect of the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement has brought about greatopportunities for Guangdong and Vietnamese localities.

He proposed that the two sides boost collaboration in fields oftheir respective strengths such as e-commerce, digital economy, innovation, andpromote connectivity of development strategies and infrastructure, thusfacilitating goods flows and maintaining supply chains.

Guangdong is also ready to deepen exchanges and cooperation withVietnamese ministries and localities in health care, education, culture andtourism, Wang said.

At the conference, the two sides discussed in depth ways toenhance the quality of economic-trade ties, promote linkages of small- andmedium-sized enterprises and boost the connectivity of development strategiesbetween Ho Chi Minh City and Guangdong./.