A Lao Cai market prepares for display of Chinese goods scheduled for February (Photo: VNA) Lao Cai(VNA) – A NewYear gathering was held in the northern border province of Lao Cai on January29 evening, with a delegation from the provincial Party Organisation and authorities and theircounterpart from Honghe county of China’sYunnan province taking part.
The event was part of the cultural exchange programmecelebrating the Lunar New Year across the border and the Vietnam-China border festival2024 held the same day.
At the event, Secretary of the Lao Cai provincial PartyCommittee Dang Xuan Phong proposed that the Secretary of the Party Committeeand leaders of Honghe county direct departments and agencies coordinate withLao Cai province to swiftly resume the exchange of goods and residents throughborder gates and crossings, facilitate the opening of border gates between both sides, andbuild a pilot model of smart border gates at the Lao Cai - Hekou internationalborder gate.
He urged Honghe county to recommend the relevant Chineseauthorities designate the Lao Cai-Hekou international railway bordergate as the primary entry point for Vietnamese agricultural products and fruitsinto the Chinese market. Furthermore, he suggested expanding the list ofVietnamese fruits allowed to be imported into China to bolster trade turnoverthrough the Lao Cai-Hekou international border gate.
He sought Honghe county’s continuedsupport for theexport of Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic products to China through bordergates, stressing the importance of streamlined customs clearance for goods viathe Lao Cai-Hekou international railway border gate.
He also suggested expanding the list of Vietnamese fruit itemsallowed for import into China to increase trade turnover through the LaoCai-Hekou international border gate.
Secretaryof the Honghe Party Committee Zhao Ruijun, for his part, said Honghe county wishes to further deepen ties between the twolocalities’ Party organisations, authorities and people.
He articulated a firmbelief that, given the potential, advantages and robust traditionalrelationship, the two sides would forge more effective cooperation in thefuture, particularly in significantly increasing the current value of export-import turnover.
On the occasion, a numberof cooperation agreements were signed by Lao Cai and Chinese partners.
The same day, the Vietnam-China economic and trade forum, along with media andyouth friendship exchanges, and an interaction between young entrepreneurs, were also held./.
