Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that northern mountainous Cao Bang province tap its strengths to promote border trade, during a visit to the Tra Linh border gate in the province’s Trung Khanh district on January 1 following its upgrade.

The province should invest in improving both border and transport infrastructure, particularly the construction of the Dong Dang - Tra Linh Expressway section, to transport goods from northern localities to China, he said.

The government leader also instructed the province to build a border economic zone, and boost cooperation in trade, investment, labor, and other cooperative activities in line with agreements reached between Vietnam and China.

The Tra Linh - Longbang (China) border gate was upgraded to an international border gate on December 28, which is expected to help expand flows of people, vehicles, and goods from third countries, contributing to promoting economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and China and the region, and further deepening the friendship between the two neighbors.

Since 2018, Cao Bang has invested VND618 billion ($25.7 million) in infrastructure development at the Tra Linh border gate. Trade revenue via the border gate was estimated at $282 million in 2023.