BEIJING — A Việt Nam trade promotion office, the second of its kind in China, was inaugurated in Hangzhou city in the eastern province of Zhejiang on November 5. 

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tiến Dũng, Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyễn Xuân Cường, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Đặng Minh Khôi and newly-accredited Chinese Ambassador to Việt Nam Xiong Bo attended the inauguration ceremony, among others.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh said that through its strengths in foreign trade, e-commerce, manufacturing, and seaport services, Zhejiang and the eastern region of China in general would continue to take the lead in the country’s reform process, thereby fueling economic and trade ties between China and countries across the region and even the world. 

Vice Governor of Zhejiang province Zhu Congjiu said that via the newly-opened office, provincial leaders expect that Vietnamese and Chinese companies can gain a deeper insight into opportunities for the import-export of goods in demand, especially Việt Nam’s agro-forestry-fishery products which are popular in China. 

Đào Việt Anh, Trade Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy in China, said the event was meant to realise the agreement signed by the two governments in 2013, as well as the joint statement inked during Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping’s visit to Việt Nam from November 10-13 last year. 

Việt Anh said trade between Việt Nam and Zhejiang hit US$7.92 billion in 2017 and Việt Nam is now the largest trade partner of the province. The first Việt Nam trade promotion office in China was established in Chongqing city in 2015. —  VNS