Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien met Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo in Hanoi on May 25.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien (left) and Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo at the meeting. (Photo: CPV)
At the meeting, the two sides agreed to open the market for Vietnam’s farm produce, exempt Vietnam’s farm produce, aquatic products and frozen food from SARS-CoV-2 testing, reopen border gates and markets, and support business connectivity activities.
Minister Nguyen Hong Dien suggested the Chinese Ambassador and Embassy facilitate the consumption of fruits and agricultural products of Vietnam, especially upcoming harvests such as lychee, longan and mango of Bac Giang, Hai Duong, Son La and other localities of the three regions.
At the meeting, Ambassador Xiong Bo stressed that economic and trade cooperation will continue to be one of the brightest points as Vietnam has become China’s sixth largest trading partner since 2020, according to Chinese statistics, an increase of 2 levels compared to 2019.
He expressed his willingness to cooperate more closely with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the coming time in order to realize the common perception of the two countries’ senior leaders; and at the same time improve the quality of economic - trade cooperation and stabilize the supply chain between the two economies.
China remains the largest trade partner, largest export market and the second largest importer of Vietnam.
According to statistics of the General Department of Customs of Vietnam, in the first four months of 2021, export and import turnover between Vietnam and China totalled 50.21 billion USD, up 43.04%. Of this, exports were 16.29 billion USD, up 28.04%, while imports were 33.92%, up 51.57% year on year./.