(VOV) - China has cemented itself as Vietnam’s leading trade partner since 2004, with bilateral turnover reaching US$41 billion in 2012. Vietnam’s trade deficit with China rose considerably from US$1.7 billion in 2004 to US$16 billion in 2012.

(VOV) - Vietnamese and Japanese entrepreneurs met in Ho Chi Minh City on August 22 to seek investment and cooperation opportunities.

(VOV) - VietJet Air airline signed a technical cooperation agreement with Lufthansa Technik company of Germany’s largest aviation group in HCM City on August 19.

Vietnam and Saudi Arabia have agreed to boost information exchange to promote trade in agricultural products such as rice, seafood, tea and coffee.

(VOV) - Japanese businesses want to invest further in Vietnam, said Takahashi Kyohei, co-chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Economic Committee, at the recent signing ceremony for the fifth phase of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative.

(VOV) - Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked Quang Nam province and its relevant ministries work towards making the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone Vietnam’s largest economic hub.

(VOV) - More than 140 businesses have gathered at the Central and Central Highland Trade Fair launched in Binh Dinh province’s Quy Nhon City on August 16.

(VOV) - Vietnam and Laos have signed an August 16 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Vientiane confirming plans to work together on a Tuan Chau island luxury resort in Quang Ninh province’s  Ha Long City.

Vietnam’s garment and textile export turnover in the first seven months of this year surpassed US$9.6 billion, up 16.3 percent over the same period last year.

(VOV) - The Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin)’s visions of sustainable development for the nation’s coal and mineral industries will require mechanizing production as much as possible and focusing on mine exploitation.