Launched in 2004, the Economic Corridor linking four Vietnamese Northern provinces and Chinese southwestern province of Yunnan has helped to reinforce mutual understanding, trust and cooperation among those localities.
 |
|
Deputy PM Pham Gia Khiem delivers speech at the fifth conference on the economic corridor cooperation among five cities and provinces of Vietnam and China, Hanoi, November 20, 2009
|
The fifth conference on the economic corridor cooperation among five provinces and cities of Vietnam and China, namely Hanoi, Lao Cai, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and Yunnan, took place today in Hanoi.
Over the last five years, the five provinces have recorded an increasing trade turnover which reached US $970 million in 2007 and US $645 million in 2008 despite global economic recession.
The economic corridor is an important bridge to connect China and ASEAN, especially when the China-ASEAN Free Trade Zone comes into effect in 2010.
Participants to the conference took this occasion to talk of ways to bring the economic corridor into full play.
Addressing the conference, Deputy PM Pham Gia Khiem urged the five localities to foster ties and uphold potentials.
The Deputy PM also revealed that the two countries’ leaders would ink a five-year plan on the Vietnam – China economic and trade development which could help to open wider doors for cooperation among localities of the two countries.
 |
|
Vietnamese and Chinese representatives attend the fifth conference on economic corridor cooperation, Hanoi, November 20, 2009
|
Mr. Khiem suggested relevant ministries and agencies of the two countries map out specific projects for cooperation; perfect the transport network; expand two-way trade volumes of the five cities and provinces; and build more industrial parks, trade centers and transnational economic zones.
On behalf of the Chinese side, Ambassador Sun Guoqiangreiterated China’s support for closer ties within the economic corridor in particular as well as between China and Vietnam in general./.