Successful cooperation between China's Yunnan province and four Vietnamese municipalities and provinces has helped improve the living standards and boost socio-economic development in their border areas, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem said in Hanoi on Nov. 20.

Speaking at a conference on cooperation in the economic corridor linking Yunnan province and the localities of Hanoi, Lao Cai, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh, Deputy PM Khiem stressed the important role the conference plays in boosting friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Noteworthy are that the two sides have deployed many important economic programmes, upped exchanges among their border provinces and increased the value of two-way trade.

Participants at the conference agreed that cooperation among the five localities has changed positively in all fields, especially in investment, trade and services. The two sides have created favourable conditions for their entrepreneurs to step up trade, investment and dialogues--even in the context of global economic crisis.

“Vietnam’s provinces are becoming Yunnan province’s second largest trading partner,” Yunnan’s deputy provincial governor Gu Zhaoxi affirmed at the conference.

Yunnan-based businesses have to date, put funds into 57 projects representing a total investment of 115 million USD in Vietnam . Trade flows through the border gates of Lao Cai, Vietnam and Hekou , China is estimated to reach 430 million USD this year.

The two sides have stepped up investment as well as coordination in a series of major fields--transportation, tourism, taxation, customs, culture and education. Important transportation links between the two sides, as well as the technological infrastructure for border gates and ports, have been built, upgraded or put into operation effectively.

“Once the transportation system on the economic corridor has been completed, it will create important conditions to push up economic, trade and investment relations between Vietnam and China,” Chairman of Lao Cai provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Huu Van said.

In the coming time, the fields of investment, trading, tourism, transportation, culture, health care, agriculture and social issues will continue to be strongly encouraged and beefed up by the five localities./.