Beijing (VNA) – Vietnam and China hold vast potential to further deepen tourism and investment cooperation, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh stated at a forum in Beijing on September 21.
Co-hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in China and the China-ASEAN Centre in Beijing, the bilateral tourism and investment promotion forum brought together representatives from Nghe An, Quang Tri, and Tay Ninh provinces of Vietnam, along with some 250 delegates from both countries’ businesses in electronics, real estate, agricultural trade, tourism, and banking.
In his opening remarks, Binh affirmed that Vietnam’s Party and State always regard fostering friendship with China as a strategic choice and top priority in the foreign policy.
Vietnam encourages Chinese enterprises to expand cooperation and investment in areas matching China's strengths and Vietnam's priority such as innovation, green growth, digital transformation, renewable and clean energy, smart city building, high-quality manufacturing, transport infrastructure, health care, and education, he said.
The diplomat added that Vietnam welcomes Chinese visitors coming to explore its natural beauty, rich history, diverse culture, warm hospitality, and safe travel environment.
Highlighting the unique potential and strengths of the Vietnamese localities, Binh said the forum provided a good chance for Chinese businesses to learn about these provinces’ advantages and policy incentives in investment and tourism, as well as to engage in direct discussion on issues of mutual interest. It also served as a platform for localities, associations, and businesses from the two countries to connect and initiate concrete cooperation projects.
The Vietnamese Embassy pledges to accompany and effectively support cooperation activities, creating the most favourable conditions for exchanges between localities and enterprises of the two countries, he stated.
Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh speaks at the Vietnam - China tourism and investment promotion forum in Beijing on September 21, 2025. (Photo: VNA)
Shi Zhongjun, Secretary-General of the China-ASEAN Centre, suggested that the two sides should further broaden and deepen cross-border tourism links, boost investment in green and digital economy, and actively promote collaboration in connectivity and artificial intelligence. They also need to enhance people-to-people exchanges and talent cooperation, expand ties in education – training, youth, and culture, and encourage their enterprises to step up human resources training and technology transfer to support practical cooperation.
He emphasised the importance of optimising the business environment and cooperation mechanisms, continuously improve foreign investment policies and regulations, enhance transparency and policy stability, and fully leverage existing mechanisms and platforms to promote policy dialogue and business connectivity.
Addressing the event, Zhang Yujing, President of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME), affirmed that as a key social organisation in China’s electromechanical industry, CCCME has always actively fostered platforms for exchange and cooperation between enterprises of the two countries.
Zhang noted that the forum, with the participation of government and business representatives from Vietnamese localities, clearly demonstrated all parties' desire to strengthen Vietnam-China investment partnerships. He added that it also laid a solid stepping stone for more diverse and in-depth cooperation in the future.
Praising Vietnam’s investment environment and the prospects for business cooperation, Chinese enterprises showed their wish to expand partnerships with Vietnam in tourism, high-quality manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and telecommunications infrastructure.
Data released at the forum show that since 2024 – the first year of implementing the agreements and common perceptions following the elevation of bilateral ties, economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and China has continued to deliver impressive results.
Bilateral trade stood at 206 billion USD as reported by Vietnam and 262 billion USD by China. It maintained strong momentum during the first eight months of 2025, totalling 159.9 billion USD, up about 22% year-on-year. Meanwhile, China has become Vietnam’s third-largest foreign investor, with total investment reaching 4.7 billion USD in 2024 and 3.13 billion USD in the first eight months of 2025, up 37.6%.
Chinese tourist arrivals in Vietnam numbered 3.7 million in 2024, a sharp increase of 214.4%; and 3.5 million over the last eight months, making China the largest source market of visitors to Vietnam./.
