Vietnamese and Chinese localities should bolster road and rail infrastructure connections to boost economic cooperation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a meeting with Secretary of Guangxi Party Committee Liu Ning in China today [September 16].

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Secretary of Guangxi Party Committee Liu Ning. Photos: Nhat Bac

The meeting took place during the Vietnamese Prime Minister's visit to Nanning City to attend the 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS).

According to Chinh, there is a need for significant advancements in cooperation between Guangxi and Vietnamese localities in various areas, including enhancing infrastructure connectivity, which involves strengthening road and railway links; promoting economic, trade, and investment cooperation by opening and upgrading border gates, as well as facilitating customs clearance for goods;  people-to-people exchanges, youth programs, cultural and artistic activities.

He expected close collaboration between localities from Vietnam and China, especially at border gates. Chinh commended both Guangxi and Lang Son for the progress in establishing the Huu Nghi - Huu Nghi Quan smart border gate model, foreseeing improved customs efficiency and increased bilateral trade.

The  Prime Minister also emphasized the need for cooperative efforts to prevent transnational border crimes and promote exchanges between border guards and police units in these border areas.

Overview of the meeting.

Additionally, Chinh called for breakthroughs in education and training cooperation, such as Guangxi providing more scholarships for Vietnamese students and offering training in fields such as tourism, culture, arts, and emerging industries that support digital transformation, green growth, and a circular economy.

Liu Ning, the Secretary of the Guangxi Party Committee, reiterated the region’s commitment to aligning with the shared vision of the leaders of both parties and countries. He pledges to expand and deepen friendly exchanges with Vietnamese localities and strongly supports coordination with Vietnamese ministries and localities to advance cooperation in key areas proposed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

These areas encompass the promotion of rail and road connectivity; the enhancement of customs clearance efficiency through the "smart border gate" pilot model; the strengthening of seaport cooperation; and joint efforts to combat transnational crime.

Liu Ning noted these initiatives will play a vital role in strengthening and deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between China and Vietnam and bring tangible benefits to the localities and their respective people.

For his part, Chinh highlighted General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's recent visit to the Huu Nghi - Huu Nghi Quan border gate, where he planted "friendship" trees, underscoring the Party and State of Vietnam's profound commitment to Vietnam-China relations.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Guangxi's cooperation with Vietnamese localities exemplifies the strong fraternal friendship between the two Parties, two nations, and the people of Vietnam and China. Hence, he looked forward to Guangxi continuing to take the lead in fostering exchanges and practical cooperation between the two countries.

Secretary Luu Ninh expressed deep appreciation for the positive sentiments of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese leadership and reaffirmed the lasting value of Guangxi's friendly relations and cooperation with Vietnamese localities.

He noted that following his visit to Vietnam in April, both sides have effectively implemented cooperative initiatives, resulting in significant achievements. Notably, trade turnover in the first eight months of 2023 exceeded $20 billion. Additionally, they initiated the pilot construction of the Huu Nghi Quan - Huu Nghi smart border gate model and the pilot operation of the Ban Gioc (Vietnam) - Duc Thien (China) waterfall landscape area. People-to-people exchanges between the two sides have also been actively promoted.