Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received the Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

Photo caption — Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Mr. Vi Thao, Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed Comrade Vi Thao to visit Vietnam and said that his first foreign visit after assuming the position of Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as well as the visits of many high-ranking leaders of Guangxi demonstrate Guangxi's special regard for its relations with Vietnam.

Comrade Vi Thao expressed his joy at visiting Vietnam for the first time in his new position; congratulated Vietnam on its great achievements in socio -economic development, and expressed his sympathy and belief that the Party and Government of Vietnam will lead the people to overcome the consequences of recent storms and floods. He affirmed that Guangxi attaches great importance to and gives top priority to developing friendly cooperative relations with Vietnamese ministries, branches and localities, and is determined to effectively implement high-level common perceptions, making practical contributions to the development of relations between the two Parties and the two countries.

At the reception, in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, the two sides expressed their delight at the positive development of the Vietnam - China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. In particular, exchanges and cooperation between ministries, branches and localities of Vietnam and Guangxi have achieved very encouraging results with many outstanding highlights including enhanced friendly exchanges; cooperation in artificial intelligence has become a new highlight; connectivity of transport infrastructure, especially railways, has been accelerated; customs clearance facilitation, border gate cooperation, and piloting cross-border industry cooperation have achieved many new developments.

Expressing his appreciation for Guangxi being a close neighbor with deep ties to Vietnam in terms of revolutionary history, a place that preserves the revolutionary activities of President Ho Chi Minh and many previous leaders of Vietnam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that Guangxi always has a very important position and role, always taking the lead in promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, and that the room for cooperation between Guangxi and ministries, branches and localities of Vietnam is still very large.

Regarding cooperation in the coming time, the Prime Minister hopes that the two sides will strengthen exchanges and cooperation between localities and people, further improve the effectiveness of exchange and cooperation mechanisms between Guangxi and ministries, branches, localities and enterprises of Vietnam. The two sides will accelerate the connection of transport infrastructure between Vietnam and Guangxi, focusing on the two standard gauge railways Lang Son - Hanoi and Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong; pilot the smart border gate model at the Huu Nghi - Huu Nghi Quan international border gate pair and other qualified border gate pairs, soon determine the model, pilot the implementation of cross-border economic cooperation zones; improve customs clearance efficiency, facilitate the import of goods, especially agricultural, forestry and fishery products of Vietnam to China and to third countries.

The Prime Minister also suggested that the two sides further promote cooperation in green economy, clean energy, science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, especially in the field of artificial intelligence application; cooperate in building large, symbolic projects in bilateral relations. The two sides should manage the land border well, actively exchange and resolve arising incidents, and build a peaceful, stable, friendly, cooperative and developing Vietnam-China land border.

Expressing sincere thanks for the attention and profound guidance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Vi Thao affirmed that the potential for cooperation between Guangxi and Vietnamese ministries, branches and localities is still very large. He hopes that the two sides will accelerate the connection of transport infrastructure; facilitate and improve the efficiency of customs clearance, smart border gates, cross-border trade; focus on promoting cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, and strengthen cooperation in training and fostering talents in science and technology. The two sides will improve the effectiveness of border management, cooperate in preventing cross-border crimes; and enhance humanistic exchanges to contribute to consolidating and deepening the China-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, bringing practical benefits to localities and people of both sides.