China to open market more for high-quality Vietnamese fruits

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said China would open itself more for Vietnamese goods, especially high-quality fruits.

At a dialogue with Li on Monday in China, during the 15th Annual Conference of Pioneers of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested China to open its market to agriculture and aquaculture products, including poultry, cattle and fruits from Vietnam.

The two sides should also bolster cooperation in agriculture, banking and finance, science and technology, education, culture and tourism, among others.

Regarding infrastructure, Chinh hoped that the two countries would look into the construction of railways, like the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong, Lang Son-Hanoi and Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong at proper time.

Li said economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries has great potential, adding that China would open its market more to Vietnamese goods, especially high-quality fruits. China would also boost the resolution of policy challenges with Vietnam for the two countries’ commerce to grow sustainably.

He requested both countries to increase strategic connectivity, especially traffic infrastructure and economic-commercial cooperation.

Last year, Vietnam exported around $11.5 billion worth of agriculture products to China, with durians making up $2 billion. In the first five months of this year, China had bought $1.7 billion worth of Vietnamese agriculture products, a 33% increase from the same period last year.

At the dialogue, Li and Chinh also stressed the importance of managing conflicts and maintaining peace and stability at the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea.

Chinh is visiting China from June 24 to 27 and participating in the 15th Annual Conference of Pioneers of the WEF, where 1,600 delegates are at to find a drive for growth amid the rise of AIs.