A Vietnam-China Comprehensive Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum took
place in Hanoi on June 10 with the aim of creating opportunities for
bilateral trade, boosting border cooperation, increasing connectivity,
thus lifting the two countries’ economic ties to a new height.
Speaking at the forum, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi
Kim Thoa affirmed that Vietnam-China comprehensive cooperation in recent
years have seen strong development, contributing to socio-economic
development of the two countries, and their border provinces in
particular.
She particularly noted the high growth
rate of cross-border trade between Vietnam and China , notably
adding to the two countries’ trade turnover. The rate averaged 23
percent a year in the 2006-2012 period, sending cross-border trade
turnover up from 3.5 billion USD in 2006 to 8.6 billion USD in 2012.
Agro-forest-aquatic products and processed industrial
goods are Vietnamese export staples to China ; meanwhile, Vietnam
mainly imports machinery, transportation vehicles, electronic goods,
food, and home appliances from China .
At the
forum, Wang Nai Xue, Director of the Department of Commerce of Guangxi (
China ) proposed the establishment of an experimental free trade
border complex in Guangxi, which can serve as a model for the friendly
cooperation between the two countries’ border areas.
Trade turnover between Guangxi and Vietnam reached 9.73 billion USD
in 2012, 12 times the figure of 2004. The figure is forecast to
continue to rise in the coming years.-VNA