The government’s leader stated this at the Vietnam-China Business Forum in the Chinese city of Nanjing (Jiangsu) on April 27, which was attended by representatives of nearly 500 businesses from both countries, in the fields of investment, trade, finance, real estate, electricity, coal, services, tourism, mineral processing, automobile assembly and shipbuilding.

On addressing the forum, Mr Dung highlighted the growing partnership between the two countries, whose two-way trade has increased annually by 30 percent over the past 10 years to reach US$21 billion in 2009. By March, he said, China had more than 700 operational projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of nearly US$3 billion, not even counting Hong Kong and Macau.

However, Mr Dung said, these results have not been on a par with the two countries’ political relationship and potential as well as their people’s wishes. Trade and investments between Jiangsu province and Vietnam stood at only $2.2 billion in 2009.

PM Dung said Vietnam appreciates Jiangsu’s potential and proposed both step up cooperation, especially in economics, trade, investment, tourism, education and culture.

He said since the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area officially came into effect early this year, enterprises from both countries have enjoyed better business conditions.

PM Dung briefed the participants in the forum on Vietnam’s investment climate and called on Chinese businesses, including those from Jiangsu and Nanjing, to expand their operations in the country.

Also at the forum, many cooperation agreements were signed between tourism, trade and trade promotion agencies from Vietnam and Jiangsu.

Photos: Mr Dung at the forum