PM expects closer cooperation between Vietnam and Chongqing, China

Chinh highlighted the positive developments in Vietnam – China relations and affirmed that the government of Vietnam is willing to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and localities to expand and strengthen friendly exchanges and comprehensive cooperation with Chongqing.

He took the occasion to thank Chongqing for restoring the exhibition area dedicated to Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary activities at the Hongyan Revolutionary Museum.

Yuan for his part emphasized that Vietnam has been Chongqing’s largest trade partner for five consecutive years and its top investment destination in ASEAN. He affirmed that the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee and administration place high importance on their friendly cooperation with Vietnam.

He praised the recent exchange of diplomatic notes between the two countries’ Ministries of Foreign Affairs on establishing a Vietnamese Consulate General in Chongqing, and expressed his belief that this Consulate General will serve as an important bridge to foster cooperation across various fields between Vietnam and Chongqing, and more broadly, with western China.

Discussing future cooperation, Chinh proposed several initiatives to strengthen ties between Vietnam and Chongqing, including boosting exchanges at various levels and sectors. He called on relevant authorities in Chongqing to support Vietnam in finalizing the procedures needed for the Vietnamese Consulate General in Chongqing to officially begin operations.

The Prime Minister also requested that Chongqing’s authorities make it easier for Vietnamese businesses to effectively utilize the China-Europe international rail link, enabling Vietnamese goods to reach third markets, and that they increase imports of high-quality Vietnamese products. He highlighted the complementarity in the trade structures of the two sides and the potential for expanding bilateral trade.

In addition, the PM advocated for strengthened cooperation in tourism, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges, as well as local partnerships. He suggested exploring the possibility of opening new direct flights between Chongqing and major Vietnamese cities to facilitate exchange and travel for citizens of both countries.

Welcoming Chinh’s proposals, Yuan assured that the Chongqing Party Committee and administration would facilitate the activities of the Vietnamese Consulate General in the city. He committed to closely coordinating with Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and localities to implement the Prime Minister’s proposals, particularly in maximizing the potential of the China-Europe international rail link and increasing imports of high-quality Vietnamese products.

Yuan also expressed his hope for cooperation in fields where Chongqing has strengths or mutual needs, such as industrial manufacturing, new materials, renewable energy, logistics, and tourism.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was paying a working trip to Chongqing, China, after attending the eighth Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit, the 10th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit, and the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) summit in Kunming.