Calling for investment in the key sectors of China ’s Qinghai province topped the agenda of a November 4 conference in Ho Chi Minh City on trade and tourism promotion between Vietnam and China .

According to Yu Xiao, deputy head of the Qinghai Department of Commerce, the event is among activities to further boost connectivity between businesses of both countries, creating favourable conditions for them to explore each other’s market and seek partners.

Located in the west of China, Qinghai has enjoyed a developed economy with key sectors such as information technology, green energy and industry, he said, expressing his hope that through the conference, more businesses from Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in particular will come to the province to study business and investment opportunities.

Vo Tan Thanh, Director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)’s branch in Ho Chi Minh City , said economic and trade ties between Vietnam and China have saw encouraging progress in recent years.

He hailed efforts by both sides’ relevant agencies to expand bilateral relations and create chances for businesses to meet and seek partnerships.

VCCI alone has signed nearly 30 memoranda of understanding and agreements with Chinese organisations to support trade exchanges among the two countries' enterprises.

By September this year, two-way trade between Vietnam and China hit about 36.24 billion USD, up 31.7 percent over the same period last year.

China now has 940 projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of nearly 5 billion USD.-VNA