During an open discussion by the Guangxi delegation at the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress of China on March 6, Huang recalled that Chairman of the People’s Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Wei Tao led a delegation to Vietnam on a visit in 2025, forging broad consensus and securing tangible cooperation outcomes. These have advanced bilateral ties to a phase of simultaneous growth in both scale and quality, creating a notable local example for building a China – Vietnam community with a shared future.

Huang cited statistics showing that trade between Guangxi and Vietnam exceeded CNY300 billion (US$43.5 billion) last year, while cross-border travel surpassed 13 million visits. Economic and trade ties have expanded into higher value-added areas such as smart agriculture and cross-border industrial supply chain. The two sides also established 23 pairs of international sister cities, the highest number among Chinese localities.

In particular, an early-spring meeting in February between the Secretary of the Guangxi Party Committee and leaders of five Vietnamese localities has ushered in a “new golden decade” of cooperation. The signed agreements cover a wide range of areas with substantial content, injecting fresh momentum and opening additional avenues for collaboration. Since last year, Guangxi – Vietnam ties have not only expanded in volume but also advanced in quality, gradually shifting from a distribution-based economic model to industrial development and digital transformation, the official noted.

Beyond economic links, people-to-people exchange has also ramped up through various cultural and sport activities between border localities. Last year, Guangxi cities, counties, communes, villages and hamlets ran border residents’ festivals and cross-border cycling events with Vietnam.

Notably, the friendship football tournament between China’s Dongxing and Vietnam’s Mong Cai has continued uninterruptedly for 31 years. Under the guidance of Secretary of the Guangxi Party Committee Chen Gang, football has served as a bridge for exchanges, with the border event expanded into a competition involving Guangxi and five Vietnamese localities, thus renewing and deepening traditional friendship.

Additionally, the round-the-clock “1369” cross-border medical emergency mechanism has facilitated treatment for nearly 700 critically ill patients, including more than 450 from Vietnam.

Huang said Fangchenggang will sustain exchanges with Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province while boosting cooperation in personnel training, youth exchanges and cross-border medical services. The city will also strengthen infrastructure and trade connectivity, study the “Two countries, two industrial parks” model for cross-border industry, and step up connectivity projects such as smart border gates, Bac Luan III Bridge, and Dongxing – Mong Cai railway, in order to enhance trade efficiency and people-to-people interactions between the two nations.

Lang Son, China’s Guangxi enhance cooperation in key sectors

Representatives from departments and agencies of the northern border province of Lang Son and China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region held talks on July 17 to review and promote cooperation in key areas, particularly trade, border management, and cultural exchange.