Vietnam’s first trade promotion office in China was inaugurated in Chong Qing city on May 28.

During the inauguration ceremony, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu said despite the global economic crisis, Vietnam and China managed to sustain sound economic ties, with bilateral trade increasing by 17 percent year on year to 58.7 billion USD in 2014, making China Vietnam’s top trading partner.

Economic relations between the Southeast Asian country and Chong Qing city have also developed significantly, he noted, adding that the establishment of a Vietnamese trade promotion office in the Chinese southwestern city is part of the implementation of an agreement between the two central Governments.

The office is tasked with promoting images of Vietnam and its products throughout China’s southwestern region whilst offering advice to Chinese companies keen on investing in Vietnam, Tu said.

He expressed his hope that the facility will help tap into the remaining cooperation potential and bolster collaboration between the countries.

Fang Wei, a special envoy of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce in Chengdu city, said the Chinese Government welcomes efforts to promote trade relations between the two countries, including the inauguration of the trade promotion office, which will be a useful channel for their business circles to foster ties.-VNA