Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has asked the northernmost province of Ha Giang to intensify its foreign relations to inspire further socio-economic development.

Minh, who is also Foreign Minister, held a working session with provincial officials on April 23 examining Ha Giang’s cooperation with Chinese localities.

Reports at the function noted that in past years, the province has maintained ties with China’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-way trade to 343 million USD since 2013, up 12 percent from 2012. Of that amount, Ha Giang has exported 216 million USD worth of commodities to China, reports said.

At the session, Ha Giang asked the Government to promptly issue a decision on upgrading the border gate to international standards and provide financial support to develop border markets so as to drive cross-border economic growth.

Responding the province’s requests, Deputy PM Minh ordered the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Planning of Investment to draw out a plan on border markets and make good use of the State budget for the construction.

He added that once Thanh Thuy is upgraded, it will become the fourth international border gate in Vietnam, and as such must be managed effectively by the province.-VNA