Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has asked the northernmost provinceof Ha Giang to intensify its foreign relations to inspire furthersocio-economic development.
Minh, who is also Foreign Minister,held a working session with provincial officials on April 23 examiningHa Giang’s cooperation with Chinese localities.
Reports at thefunction noted that in past years, the province has maintained ties withChina’s Yunnan province and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
The partnership has been focused on border management, cross-border trade, tourism and border gate improvements.
Notably,key economic zones like Thanh Thuy Border Gate have boosted two-waytrade to 343 million USD since 2013, up 12 percent from 2012. Of thatamount, Ha Giang has exported 216 million USD worth of commodities toChina, reports said.
At the session, Ha Giang asked theGovernment to promptly issue a decision on upgrading the border gate tointernational standards and provide financial support to develop bordermarkets so as to drive cross-border economic growth.
Respondingthe province’s requests, Deputy PM Minh ordered the Ministry of Industryand Trade and the Ministry of Planning of Investment to draw out a planon border markets and make good use of the State budget for theconstruction.
He added that once Thanh Thuy is upgraded, it willbecome the fourth international border gate in Vietnam, and as such mustbe managed effectively by the province.-VNA