Chinese wares take centre stage at trade show in Hanoi

The products on display at the three-day fair include electrical products, pharmaceutical equipment, textiles, pearl products, equipment for the textile industry, consumer goods, fruits and vegetables, among others.

To Ngoc Son, deputy head of the Asia-Pacific Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the fair is a platform for exploring business opportunities and trade and investment opportunities between Vietnam and China.

Commercial goods and services trade between the two countries has been growing steadily over recent years, said Mr Son, and now China is the largest trading partner of Vietnam.

There are more than 150 exhibition booths, representing 100 businesses from an estimated 11 cities of Zhejiang Province, displaying thousands of items covering close to 20 different traditional crafts and skills as well as intangible cultural heritage items such as live demonstrations of arts and crafts skills.

"The quality of made-in-China products has improved much in recent years. They are even comparable to American and European brands," some buyers said, browsing plastic building blocks and other toys at a booth.

To help exhibitors and trade visitors to open up business opportunities, the organizers have arranged such activities as business matching and trade talks with an aim to give fuller play to Macao’s advantage as a service platform and enhance trade between the two regions.