Mr Liu made the statement in Chongqing city on October 15 while receiving Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, who arrived there the same day for an official visit and to attend the 10^th Western China International Trade Fair.

Mr Liu described Mr Dung’s visit as an important event in the relations between Sichuan and Vietnam, showing the latter’s determination to strengthen the strategic and comprehensive cooperation partnership between the two countries, particularly between Vietnamese provinces and Sichuan.

He highlighted Sichuan’s major potential areas and said that the Chinese province wants to promote cooperation with Vietnam in economics, trade, investment, tourism, transport, education-training and science-technology. 

For his part, Mr Dung praised the socio-economic achievements made recently by the provincial Party Committee, administration and people, especially their efforts to overcome the consequences of the earthquake of May 2008.

He echoed Mr Liu that Vietnamese provinces and Sichuan have great potential for developing trade ties and said the organisation of a Vietnam-China business forum in Chongqing City offers a great chance for the two business communities to seek opportunities for investment in each other’s markets.

He proposed that the two countries’ relevant agencies work on a project to open direct air routes between Vietnam and Sichuan and provide appropriate mechanisms for cooperation between their ministries, agencies and localities.

He assured that the Vietnamese government will create the best possible conditions for businesses from Sichuan province to do long-term business in Vietnam. He proposed that the Sichuan administration assist its businesses to invest in Vietnam and increase the import of Vietnamese products.

At a Vietnam-China business forum held in the afternoon, Mr Dung noted that China is one of Vietnam’s leading trade partners. Despite the global economic recession, two-way trade hit US$12.5 billion between January-August 2009 and the figure is expected to increase to US$19-20 billion by the end of the year.

However, he said the results have not yet matched the two countries’ potential nor met the aspirations of their governments and people.

He noted that Sichuan takes the lead among Chinese localities in investing in Vietnam, while Vietnam can boost its exports, notably rubber, rice, tea, fruit, seafood, handicrafts and footwear to the Chinese province.

Vietnam wants to expand economic cooperation with Sichuan, considering this an important part of the strategic comprehensive cooperation partnership between Vietnam and China, said Mr Dung.        

Mr Dung and Mr Liu witnessed the signing of a number of agreements, including a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in trade, investment and tourism between Sichuan and the Vietnamese Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, and a cooperation agreement between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Sichuan trade promotion council. The Electricity of Vietnam Group and the Dongfang Electric Corporation also signed a cooperation contract worth more than US$1 billion at the event.