Việt Nam attaches importance to Pan-Tonkin Gulf economic co-operation and wants to enhance partnerships between ASEAN countries and China, deputy minister of Transport Nguyễn Hồng Trường has said at a forum in China’s Nanning City.— VNA/VNS Photo Trung Kiên

NANNING — Việt Nam attaches importance to Pan-Tonkin Gulf economic co-operation and wants to enhance partnerships between ASEAN countries and China, deputy minister of Transport Nguyễn Hồng Trường has said at a forum in China’s Nanning City.

The ninth Pan-Tonkin Gulf Economic Co-operation Forum commenced yesterday in the Chinese city, which is located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

It is being attended by about 500 delegates from China and the ASEAN nations.

At the opening session, deputy minister Trường noted the outstanding achievements in the ASEAN–China dialogue relationship, including the completion of negotiations on the ASEAN–China free trade area.

He highly valued opportunities brought about by the ASEAN Economic Community, established on December 31 last year, to both sides’ businesses and the regional development co-operation.

Stronger co-operation between ASEAN countries and China will augment bilateral trade, facilitate customs clearance and technology development, and improve production capacity. It will also help develop transport networks, educational co-operation, people-to-people exchanges, and collaboration in environmental and natural resource protection, he added.

The official also highlighted the progress in Việt Nam’s affiliation with China, including Guangxi Province, recently.

At the forum, participants discussed the formation of a China–mainland Southeast Asia economic corridor, and a co-operation network of Chinese and ASEAN port cities.

The Pan-Tonkin Gulf Economic Co-operation Forum is part of the “One Axis and Two Wings” initiative, launched by China in 2006.—VNS