Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc welcomes Governor of Yunnan province Ruan Chengfa in Hà Nội on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has said an ongoing visit from Governor of Yunnan province Ruan Chengfa is hugely important for Việt Nam-China ties.

During a reception for the Chinese governor in Hà Nội on Thursday, the PM said the trip would benefit Yunnan and Việt Nam’s border areas and the Việt Nam–Yunnan economic co-operation corridor.

He also hailed the collaboration between Vietnamese ministries, agencies, localities with Yunnan over the years. Two-way trade between Việt Nam and Yunnan hit US$4.15 billion last year, up 13 per cent from 2017, he said

The PM suggested the two sides discuss ways to increase two-way trade and develop the Kunming–Hà Nội–Hải Phòng economic corridor. 

He said Yunnan is a great partner for Việt Nam thanks to its aviation, railway and road connectivity, while Việt Nam is developing transport infrastructure in border areas. 
The PM asked Yunnan to push cross-border trade, ease customs clearance procedures to minimise jams in border areas and import more agro-forestry-aquatic products from Việt Nam via mainstream channels. 
He proposed Yunnan boost people-to-people exchange and expand ties between departments and agencies of Yunnan and Việt Nam. 
The Vietnamese leader asked the two nations’ border localities to continue paying heed to legal documents on the Việt Nam–China border, and turn the borderline between Yunnan and Vietnamese localities into a model in bilateral ties.
He described railway transportation as the main foundation for bilateral economic and trade ties, and proposed opening a Hải Phòng–Yunnan direct flight to develop tourism and border trade.
Ruan said he hoped both sides would reinforce economic and trade ties, as well as develop railway transportation and tourism. 
Yunnan will work closely with Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities to realise agreements reached by the two nations’ senior leaders, he added, adding that he thinks the Kunming–Hà Nội–Hải Phòng economic corridor is set to thrive. — VNS