The Jiangsu provincial authorities will facilitate cooperation in trade and investment, education and training as well as exchanges between Jiangsu and Vietnamese businesses, its Governor confirmed.

Governor Luo Zhijun made the statement at the Vietnam-China trade and economic cooperation forum held in the presence of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on April 27.

PM Dung, who is in China for the Shanghai World Expo 2010 and touring Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces and Shanghai city, said that two-way trade between Vietnam and China has steadily increased with an annual average growth of more than 30 percent over the past 10 years.

He went on to say that the value reached--over 21 billion USD in 2009—reflected a year-on-year rise of almost 6 percent, despite the impact of the global economic and financial crisis. It rose to almost 40 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2010.

As of the end of March 2010, China had more than 700 projects totalling nearly 3 billion USD operating in Vietnam (excluding Hong Kong and Macau investment). The majority of these projects are actively being carried out, benefiting the two countries and Chinese businesses, said the Vietnamese PM.

China is now Vietnam ’s leading trade and investment partner, thanks in large part to the great contributions of Jiangsu province and Nanjing city businesses, said PM Dung, adding that two-way trade between Vietnam and Jiangsu province has recorded an annual average increase of nearly 30 percent over the past four years.

PM Dung noted, however, the result has failed to match up with the two countries’ political relations and fine friendship, as well as their full potential and desires of the two Governments and peoples.

The purpose of the visit is to discuss and reach agreement on a number of important issues to promote the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership with priority given to economics, trade and investment cooperation to bring two-way trade to 25 billion USD in 2010 and increase the two countries’ investment, said the PM.

Governor Luo said that the forum is a practical activity for Chinese and Vietnamese businesses to exchange information and explore trade and investment cooperation opportunities.

The presence of more than 400 Jiangsu provincial businesses operating in energy, mining, electronics, nano and digital technology and tourism reflects the keen interest of business in promoting investment cooperation with Vietnam , said Luo.

According to Luo, the eastern province of Jiangsu enjoys many strengths for cooperation and investment in Vietnam . Jiangsu is a big market with more than 77 million people and enjoys bustling trade and economic development with a GDP of 500 billion USD in 2009 and an annual per-capita income of 6,400 USD, he added.

After the forum, PM Dung and Governor Luo witnessed the signing ceremony for a number of cooperation documents between Vietnam and Jiangsu, including a memorandum of understanding on tourism cooperation, cooperation on information exchange on trade, and cooperation among localities and the Vietnamese and Jiangsu Chambers of Commerce and Industry./.