Vietnam, Ningbo forge closer ties

Mayor Mao Guanglie of Ningbo, China underlined the city's potential for working closer with Vietnam in industry, manufacturing and container ports at a Vietnamese-Chinese trade and economic forum in Ningbo, Thai News Service reported.

The trade and investment cooperation between Ningbo and Vietnam has recorded an annual average rise of nearly 30 percent over recent years, said Mayor Mao, noting that 28 Ningbo businesses have opened up representative offices in Vietnam.

However, Guanglie said that the level of trade and investment has fallen far short of what both could achieve.

According to Guanglie, the signing of various agreements between the Ningbo city authorities and the People's Committee of the southern province of Dong Nai is a new motive force that will hopefully promote closer links between the two localities.

He pledged that the city would carry out the agreements and facilitate businesses from Ningbo to invest in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said that the fast increase in two-way trade between Vietnam and China was attributable to the contributions of many businesses in Zhejiang province and especially Ningbo.

The Vietnamese Government is eager to do its utmost to promote comprehensive cooperation ties with China in general and Ningbo in particular, said PM Dung.

He took the occasion to call on Chinese businesses to expand and invest in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese economy is fully and effectively integrating into the world's economy, he said, adding that Vietnam is a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and has economic and trade relations with almost every country and territory in the world.

(Source: Cargo News Asia)