Deputy PM calls for improved trade balance with China

The official made the remarks at a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang in Yunnan Province’s Kunming city yesterday as part of his trip to China to attend the fourth China-South Asia Expo and the 24th Kunming Import and Export Commodities Fair. He suggested the two countries enhance their coordination in border management and encourage partnerships between their localities. The two sides should make the best of cooperation mechanisms, including the working group on infrastructure and finance-monetary collaboration, encourage competent Chinese businesses to increase their investments in major projects in Việt Nam, and effectively implement aid packages and preferential loans China has granted to Việt Nam, he said. The Deputy Prime Minister also proposed the two countries maintain high-level meetings and expand people-to-people exchanges, especially between their young generations. Việt Nam attaches importance to developing the stable, healthy and long-term relationship with China and stands ready to work together with the country to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership, he affirmed. Dũng also expressed his concerns over recent developments in the region and the East Sea, emphasising that peace and stability are necessary for regional cooperation and development. He called on the two sides to take pragmatic actions to control disputes and take no actions that complicate and expand disputes in the East Sea. The two sides should seriously observe common perceptions reached by the two countries’ leaders, especially the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, while collaborating to protect peace and stability at sea, he stated. Wang Yang reassured that the Chinese Party and Government attach importance to developing the neighbourly friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Việt Nam. He said the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Dũng and 140 Vietnamese businesses at the expo demonstrates the importance Việt Nam attaches to the bilateral affiliation. The Vice Premier suggested the two sides increase their strategic exchanges, raise mutual political trust, step up connectivity and cooperation in production capacity and soon decide on and implement a number of key joint projects.

Việt Nam is the main guest at the 4th China-South Asia Expo and the 24th Kunming Import and Export Commodities Fair. The two fairs, co-organised by the Chinese Ministry of Trade and the Yunnan province, attracted 4,000 enterprises from 80 countries and territories in South Asia and Southeast Asia and more than 8,000 booths.

Vietnamese enterprises are running 250 booths at the events.

Deputy Prime Minister Dũng was invited by the Chinese Government and Yunnan province’s authorities to visit Yunnan and attend the opening ceremony of the fairs from Saturday to today.