Prime Minister proposes China to coordinate two corridors, one economic belt

On the afternoon of November 25, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and a delegation of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce who are visiting and working in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chinese Minister of Commerce - Photo: VGP

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam attach importance to maintaining and developing the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, considering this a consistent policy, an objective requirement, a strategic, long-term choice and a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to continue to concretize the common perception between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping on bringing the two countries' relationship into a new stage of development.

The Prime Minister and the Minister of Commerce of China highly appreciated the results of economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and China. Since 2004, China has always been Vietnam's number 1 trade partner. Currently, China is the 4th largest foreign investment market in terms of capital and the leading market in terms of the number of new projects in Vietnam.

In 2022, Vietnam will become China's fourth largest trading partner by country criteria, and China's largest trading partner in ASEAN. In the first 10 months of 2023, Vietnam-China import-export turnover reached nearly 140 billion USD.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that the two sides promote substantive cooperation in all fields, expand bilateral trade, and contribute to meeting production and consumption needs. China should further open its market to goods that Vietnam has strengths in and that China has demand for.

The Prime Minister also suggested that the two sides continue to coordinate effectively in implementing the "two corridors, one economic belt" and enhancing transport connectivity, including railways such as upgrading the Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line.

The two sides need to overcome the disruption, ensure the smooth supply chain of goods; promote border trade, coordinate to facilitate and effectively classify goods, promote electronic customs clearance, have solutions so that all goods can pass through border gates; and promote e-commerce cooperation.

In particular, the Prime Minister requested the Chinese side to actively discuss and coordinate with Vietnamese agencies to establish a Working Group to handle problems in a number of backlogged projects such as Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Phase 2, Ninh Binh Fertilizer Plant, Ha Bac Fertilizer Plant... in the spirit of harmonious benefits and shared risks.

Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao affirmed that Vietnam is one of China’s important trade partners. China wishes to increase the import of high-quality agricultural products , coordinate to ensure smooth customs clearance, promote border trade, and resolve backlogs in some industrial projects, etc.

The Minister said he will report to competent authorities and continue to closely coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and other ministries, branches and localities of Vietnam to effectively implement the common perceptions and agreements of the high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and two countries, and the Prime Minister's opinions, contributing to deepening and bringing the bilateral trade and investment cooperation relationship, which still has great potential, to new heights.

Tuoitre.vn