The northern border province of Lao Cai has made great efforts to link China's south-western localities with Vietnamese provinces and cities, said the provincial People's Committee vice chairman Nguyen Thanh Duong at an Oct. 18press conference in Hanoi.

The province has upgraded transport infrastructure and improved facilities in the Lao Cai International Border-gate Economic Zone while expanding its Kim Thanh Economic Zone to facilitate Vietnamese and Chinese businesses, Duong said.

"The province is cooperating with China 's Yunnan province to build the Kunming-Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong economic corridor, which will make an effective contribution to accelerating the bilateral relationships, especially in trade and tourism," he said.

Lao Cai will also join hands with Yunnan authorities to organise the Vietnam-China International Trade Fair 2011 in the province from November 11-16.

In its 11th outing, the event will be the largest of its kind in the northern border region and provide an opportunity for businesses from the two countries to advertise their products, better understand each other's demand and seek new trade partners, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien.

It will also offer provinces in the region opportunities to introduce advantages and potentials as well as projects seeking investment capital from Chinese investors, he said.

This event is expected to attract the participation of about 300 enterprises showcasing goods at 700 pavilions, said the provincial Trade, Investment and Tourism Promotion Centre director Le Tien Dung.

Displays will include agricultural products, seafood, automobiles, machinery and equipment, electronics, clothing, footwear, furniture and handicraft, he said.

A forum aimed at fostering trade and investment relations between Vietnamese and Chinese firms will be held on the sideline of the trade fair.

At the previous exhibition in 2009, 14 contracts worth 114 million USD were signed between Vietnamese and Chinese partners./.