Vietnam hopes to work with China and countries in the region to strengthen the comprehensive relationship, accelerate trade and investment promotion, push for traffic infrastructure connections, and boost tourism for regional development and prosperity and for the sake of their business communities and people, the Government News has reported.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang made the statement at the opening of the 7th China - South Asia Exposition and the 27th China Kunming Import & Export Fair on August 16 in Kunming, Yunnan, China.

In that spirit, he said, it is essential to further uphold the role of the China - South Asia Exposition and diversify cooperation modes within the expo to make it an effective cooperation channel between both China and Yunnan province and countries in the region, contributing to expanding export markets and further strengthening investment, traffic, and tourism links.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government attaches great importance to economic, trade, industrial, and investment cooperation with China and countries in South Asia, in which China has been Vietnam’s largest trading partner for the past 20 years and its sixth-largest investor.

To create favorable conditions for businesses from these countries to promote trade and investment in the southwest of China, the Deputy Prime Minister proposed that the Chinese Government and Yunnan provincial authorities continue facilitating trade activities and accelerate the opening of markets for agricultural and seafood products and processed foodstuffs and improve customs clearance efficiency.

He also called for increased performance by trade representative offices and business associations and the business community in each country to proactively seek opportunities and maximize their capabilities, advantages, activeness, and creativity to make cooperation between businesses much more stronger, effective, and practical.

He said he believed that the expo would present ample opportunities for participating enterprises to find cooperation and strengthen mutual understanding and connections to overcome the challenges for common prosperity.

The 7th China - South Asia Exposition runs from August 15-20 with participants from 85 countries and territories and international organizations.

Businesses and representatives from seven localities in Vietnam, including Hanoi, have joined the expo, with 130 booths displaying products ranging from foodstuffs and beverages to footwear, seafood, and wood and handicrafts, among others.