While receiving Governor of Yunnan province Qin Guangrong in Hanoi on April 4, Mr Dung spoke highly of the growing ties between Vietnam and China in all areas and believed that Mr Qin’s visit will contribute to further strengthening cooperation between Yunnan and Vietnamese localities as well as between Vietnam and China. He said the two countries have great potential for economic, trade and investment development to realise their leaders’ commitments to raising bilateral trade value from the current level of US$10 billion to US$15 billion in the coming years.    

To do this, Mr Dung said the two sides should spare no effort to make the Kunming-Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong economic corridor become an important part of the “two corridors and one economic beltway” programme and to encourage their businesses to increase investments in transport, tourism, mineral exploitation and education and training. He also asked them to complete the planting of border markers by 2008 as agreed by the two countries’ leaders, create conditions for Vietnamese students to study in Yunnan and effectively cooperate in using water resources of the Red and Mekong Rivers.

“The Vietnamese Government will create all favourable conditions for Yunnan province to boost cooperation with Vietnamese localities as well as for its businesses to invest effectively in the country,” said Mr Dung.

Governor Qin said his visit in company with representatives of more than 200 leading businesses in Yunnan province aims to seek investment opportunities and strengthen relations with Vietnamese localities. He said 47 businesses from Yunnan province are currently investing in Vietnam and two-way trade value increases by 60 percent annually. In addition, the number of Vietnamese students in the province keeps increasing. Notably, he said Yunnan and its Vietnamese border localities are finalising their cooperation mechanisms in such areas as investment, trade and education and training.

The Yunnan Governor expressed his desire to boost cooperation in iron and aluminum ore exploitation, transport and tourism with Vietnam. He pledged to work closely with Vietnamese localities to complete the planting of border markers, effectively use water resources of the Red and Mekong Rivers and implement projects under the “Two corridors-one economic beltway” programme.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem gave a reception and banquet in honour of Mr Qin.

The same day, Mr Khiem and Mr Qin witnessed the hand-over of 50 heavy trucks as a gift from Yunnan province to Vietnam’s agricultural sector. 

During his stay, Mr Qin worked with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Hanoi City People’s Committee and the Quang Ninh provincial People’s Committee.