Lao Cai (VNA) – A conference wasorganised in the northern border province of Lao Cai on July 13 to seek ways topromote the import-export of farm produce, fruits, and aquatic products betweenLao Cai and China’s Yunnan province.

The conference aimed at helping Vietnameselocalities and firms update information on the Chinese market and customspolicies for these products at a pair of international border crossings in Lao Caiand Hekou in China.

Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Department of TradePromotion under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said Vietnam holds substantialpotential in its agro-aquatic products and fruits, supplying the demand of bothdomestic and international markets, including China.

Lao Cai, located at the centre of the North-SouthCorridor in the Greater Mekong region, connects Vietnam with Yunnan provinceand the southwest region of China.

In the first six months of 2018, the value ofimport-export via Lao Cai exceeded 1.55 billion USD, up 29 percent year-on-year.Of the sum, the export of fruits and agro-aquatic products brought in more than306 million USD.  

Huang Shan, of Yunnan’s Department of Commerce,attributed the high growth of Yunnan-Vietnam trade to the signing of anagreement on border trade development that is based on mutual benefit andsupport.

According to her, Yunnan mostly importsVietnamese fruits and seafood, while Vietnam has high demand for Yunnan’svegetables and fruits.

She informed participants of the conference onYunnan’s import policies targeting Vietnamese farm produce, fruits, and aquaticproducts.

To boost trade between Yunnan and Vietnameselocalities, Huang proposed both sides speed up customs clearance and reduceadministration fees to cut logistic costs.

She suggested Vietnam work to expand its sharein the seafood market of China’s southwest and northwest regions.

Le Ngoc Hung, Vice Chairman of the Lao CaiPeople’s Committee, stressed the province’s commitment to helping enterpriseshandle bottlenecks and improve the local business climate.

At the conference, 12 provincial Departments ofIndustry and Trade of Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding withYunnan’s Department of Commerce on trade development cooperation in a bid tocapitalise on the potential of the Kunming (Yunnan)-Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong-QuangNinh economic corridor. -VNA