Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on September 3 attended the 2013ASEAN-China Expo (CAEXPO 2013) and the 10th ASEAN-China Business andInvestment Summit (CABIS), which kicked off in Nanning city, ZhuangAutonomous Region in China’s Guangxi province.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, PM Dung noted that China has beenthe first and the most important external trading partner of theAssociation of South East Asian Nations.
After thetwo sides signed their Framework Agreement on Comprehensive EconomicCooperation in 2002, a series of agreements were also inked, includingthose on trade in goods, trade in services, and on investment,completing all pillars of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA),the very first free trade area that ASEAN established with a partnerstate, he cited.
On this firm foundation, two-waytrade between both sides has maintained speedy growth, averaging 22percent per year. China has repeatedly been the largest tradingpartner of the bloc, while the former has been the latter’s thirdbiggest trading partner, he said.
China’sdirect investment in ASEAN member countries has been growing, whileconnectivity among businesses and people of both sides has beenincreasing, he added.
PM Dung said he is delightedthat both ASEAN and China have made continuous efforts andinitiatives to build an even better foundation for development.
He confirmed that Vietnam always supports and attaches muchimportance to the cooperation between ASEAN and China, whileexpressing his belief that the framework will help promote bilateralties between Vietnam and China.
TheVietnamese Government also encourages and creates all possibleconditions for Chinese enterprises as well as those from ASEAN to investin Vietnam, he affirmed.
Vietnam alsofavours the consideration and discussion of the upgrade of the ACFTA tosuit the common interests of both parties and for mutual development andbenefit, he added.
The Vietnamese PM said togetherwith multifaceted cooperation, all disputes and differences in theregion need settling in a responsible and effective manner. Together,all parties should build mutual trust and political will and consulteach other to take peaceful measures for the settlement on the basis ofinternational law, while seeking suitable solutions that are accepted byall sides.
Addressing the opening ceremony, ChinesePremier Li Keqiang underscored the significance of the events, whichmark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEANstrategic partnership and fuel the two-way trade target of 500 billionUSD before 2015.
He said the fruitful outcomes ofthe cooperation between China and ASEAN over the past time, which hedescribed as beneficial for everyone involved, are of practicalsignificance for the common development of both sides.
The Chinese Premier said strengthening cooperation with neighbouringnations in the bloc is a priority in the country’s external policy.
China always backs an ASEAN of strong development for peace,stability and prosperity in the region, he affirmed, adding that hiscountry welcomes, encourages and creates favourable conditions forbusinesses from ASEAN to invest in China for the common benefit ofboth sides.
The annual CAEXPO, jointly held byChina’s Ministry of Trade, the 10 ASEAN member countries and the ASEANSecretariat, is considered one of the top ten Chinese exhibitions andbecome an important mechanism to promote friendship and trade ties amongASEAN member states and China.
As many as 110Vietnamese enterprises showcased their products at 200 out of the 4,600pavilions at the expo this year, more than any other participating ASEANor regional country.
The expo is divided into fivethemed areas, with the highlight being the “Beautiful City” fieldfeaturing each nation’s major cities, including Quy Nhon city inVietnam’s central Binh Dinh province.
The CABIS,initiated in 2004, is an important annual high-level forum between ASEANand China, aiming to grow their strategic partnership and hasteningthe establishment of an ASEAN-China free trade area.
PM Dung arrived back in Hanoi later that day, concluding his trip to China.-VNA
Speaking at the opening ceremony, PM Dung noted that China has beenthe first and the most important external trading partner of theAssociation of South East Asian Nations.
After thetwo sides signed their Framework Agreement on Comprehensive EconomicCooperation in 2002, a series of agreements were also inked, includingthose on trade in goods, trade in services, and on investment,completing all pillars of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA),the very first free trade area that ASEAN established with a partnerstate, he cited.
On this firm foundation, two-waytrade between both sides has maintained speedy growth, averaging 22percent per year. China has repeatedly been the largest tradingpartner of the bloc, while the former has been the latter’s thirdbiggest trading partner, he said.
China’sdirect investment in ASEAN member countries has been growing, whileconnectivity among businesses and people of both sides has beenincreasing, he added.
PM Dung said he is delightedthat both ASEAN and China have made continuous efforts andinitiatives to build an even better foundation for development.
He confirmed that Vietnam always supports and attaches muchimportance to the cooperation between ASEAN and China, whileexpressing his belief that the framework will help promote bilateralties between Vietnam and China.
TheVietnamese Government also encourages and creates all possibleconditions for Chinese enterprises as well as those from ASEAN to investin Vietnam, he affirmed.
Vietnam alsofavours the consideration and discussion of the upgrade of the ACFTA tosuit the common interests of both parties and for mutual development andbenefit, he added.
The Vietnamese PM said togetherwith multifaceted cooperation, all disputes and differences in theregion need settling in a responsible and effective manner. Together,all parties should build mutual trust and political will and consulteach other to take peaceful measures for the settlement on the basis ofinternational law, while seeking suitable solutions that are accepted byall sides.
Addressing the opening ceremony, ChinesePremier Li Keqiang underscored the significance of the events, whichmark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEANstrategic partnership and fuel the two-way trade target of 500 billionUSD before 2015.
He said the fruitful outcomes ofthe cooperation between China and ASEAN over the past time, which hedescribed as beneficial for everyone involved, are of practicalsignificance for the common development of both sides.
The Chinese Premier said strengthening cooperation with neighbouringnations in the bloc is a priority in the country’s external policy.
China always backs an ASEAN of strong development for peace,stability and prosperity in the region, he affirmed, adding that hiscountry welcomes, encourages and creates favourable conditions forbusinesses from ASEAN to invest in China for the common benefit ofboth sides.
The annual CAEXPO, jointly held byChina’s Ministry of Trade, the 10 ASEAN member countries and the ASEANSecretariat, is considered one of the top ten Chinese exhibitions andbecome an important mechanism to promote friendship and trade ties amongASEAN member states and China.
As many as 110Vietnamese enterprises showcased their products at 200 out of the 4,600pavilions at the expo this year, more than any other participating ASEANor regional country.
The expo is divided into fivethemed areas, with the highlight being the “Beautiful City” fieldfeaturing each nation’s major cities, including Quy Nhon city inVietnam’s central Binh Dinh province.
The CABIS,initiated in 2004, is an important annual high-level forum between ASEANand China, aiming to grow their strategic partnership and hasteningthe establishment of an ASEAN-China free trade area.
PM Dung arrived back in Hanoi later that day, concluding his trip to China.-VNA
