Vietnam always supports ASEAN-China cooperation: Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh addresses the opening ceremony of the 14th CAEXPO and the 14th CABIS in Nanning on September 12

Deputy PM Binh, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli and leaders of ASEAN countries were attending the opening ceremony of the 14th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the 14th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS).

The Vietnamese official hailed the importance of this year’s CAEXPO, held amid the 50th founding anniversary of ASEAN. He affirmed that CAEXPO and CABIS events have contributed to the growth of the ASEAN-China strategic partnership.

Vietnam attaches importance to CAEXPOs and has more than 250 booths at this, the 14th edition. It has been the ASEAN country with the biggest number of booths at the expo for 12 straight years, he noted.

He also detailed Vietnam’s resolve to integrate into the world and responsibly contribute to regional and international issues. The country has strategic and comprehensive partnerships with many countries, while having economic and trade relations with 224 countries and territories.

Vietnam is one of the successful developing nations in attracting foreign direct investment, and is striving to attain sustainable growth by improving growth quality and making use of chances generated by Industry 4.0 to promote labour productivity and competitiveness, the Deputy PM said.

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Binh emphasised that Vietnam is ready to link the ASEAN Economic Community and China, and together with other ASEAN countries to enhance cooperation, keep peace and stability, and solve differences for the sake of all parties’ interests, thus ensuring smooth economic cooperation and contributing to peace, cooperation, development and prosperity in the region.

For his part, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli reviewed cooperation policies and activities between his country and ASEAN, underlining that China treasures its ties with ASEAN.

He suggested cooperation policies for the time ahead, including the consolidation of political trust to create a foundation for boosting overall cooperation, including in economy-trade, production capacity improvement, resources connection and people-to-people exchange.

The CAEXPO and the CABIS have become an important mechanism for bolstering friendship exchanges, trade and ties between ASEAN and China. They have also turned into a destination for businesses from China, ASEAN and other regions, Zhang added.