Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan😼 Dung hosted a reception for the Secretary of China’s Yunnan provincial Party Committee, Li Jiheng in Hanoi on November 6.

The PM hailed the cooperation between Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities with Chinese localities, including Yunnan province, noting that the Vietnamese Government always supports the enhancement of such exchanges and connections, particularly between the countries’ border localities like Yunnan. He requested that the two sides actively realise important common perceptions reached by their senior leaders on cementing cooperation between their ministries, sectors and localities, increasing all-level delegation and people-to-people exchanges in border areas, and effectively utilising existing cooperation mechanisms. Both sides should strive for result-oriented cooperation in economics, trade, investment and tourism; facilitate the import of Vietnamese goods, especially agro-forestry-fishery products, into Yunnan as well as the Chinese market as a whole; and consider the opening of a direct air route linking Yunnan and Vietnamese localities to boost cultural and tourism activities, he noted. The PM urged both sides to continue the close coordination in border and border gate management, explore measures to smooth the path for exchanges, cooperation and economic development in border regions, and work together to ensure peace, friendship, cooperation and development in Vietnam – China border communities. For his part, Secretary Li Jiheng promised closer coordination with the Vietnamese side in effectively implementing agreements reached by their leaders and between Yunnan and Vietnamese localities, especially in cooperation in economics, trade, investment, construction of border trade and tourism zones, and building a border of peace, stability, cooperation and amity between the two countries. He also suggested Vietnamese and Chinese leaders promote transport connectivity between Yunnan and Vietnamese localities to pave the way for cross-border trading, investment and travel, thus practically benefiting their people. Also on November 6, Yunnan Party Secretary Li Jiheng was welcomed by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, who underlined Vietnam’s consistent policy of tightening the Vietnam – China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Minh called on the two sides to foster the sustainable, balanced and healthy development of their economic-trade cooperation while encouraging Chinese businesses to invest in transport infrastructure of the economic corridor traversing Yunnan’s Kunming city and Vietnam’s Lao Cai province, Hanoi, Hai Phong city and Quang Ninh province. They also need to intensify coordination in land border management, cross-border crime prevention, and facilitating customs clearance for people, cargo and vehicle movements via border gates, he added. The Chinese Party official said Yunnan treasures its relations with Vietnamese localities and is willing to join hands in stepping up collaboration in all fields, contributing to the Vietnam – China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.-VNA