HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc hosted a reception for Secretary of the Party Committee of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Lu Xinshe, in Hà Nội yesterday.

PM Phúc welcomed Lu’s first visit to Việt Nam to attend a spring meeting with secretaries of the Party Committees of the border provinces of Quảng Ninh, Lạng Sơn, Cao Bằng and Hà Giang.

Saying the two countries shared deep and comprehensive relations, he suggested both sides work to raise awareness among party members and young people of the friendship between Việt Nam and China, and to bolster economic and trade ties between their border localities.

PM Phúc said Việt Nam wanted to accelerate the development of cross-border economic zones, and the Vietnamese Government would instruct border localities to develop transport infrastructure to promote trade links with Chinese localities.

Noting that Guangxi accounts for 25 percent of total Việt Nam-China trade value, he expressed his hope for the strong and balanced development of bilateral trade ties.

The PM suggested Guangxi authorities create favourable customs clearance conditions for more Vietnamese exports to enter the Chinese market.

Furthermore, he said both sides should work together to prevent trafficking and border crimes to build and maintain a peaceful border.

The Chinese official spoke highly of the exchange mechanisms between Guangxi and Vietnamese border provinces, which help both sides develop transport connections and trade ties.

He said he hoped to receive the Vietnamese Government’s support in developing land and sea transport connectivity between Việt Nam and China in general and Guangxi in particular.

Lu also urged the two sides to pay attention to the building of cross-border economic zones to enhance trade ties between the two nations.

As Guangxi has an important role in Việt Nam-China relations thanks to its geographical location, Lu said he would do his utmost to consolidate and further develop friendship and collaboration between the two countries. — VNS