(VOVworld)-Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has left for China to attend the ASEAN - China Expo and the ninth ASEAN – China Business and Investment Summit in Nanning, China from September 20-21. The visit is made at the invitation of the Chinese Government and the authorities of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. The Prime Minister’s visit aims to strengthen the ASEAN- China Strategic partnership, promote the establishment of ASEAN China Free Trade Area. The visit is expected to help Vietnamese enterprises expand cooperation with Chinese partners.

The ASEAN – China Expo and the ninth ASEAN – China Business and Investment Summit are held annually in Nanning by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and 10 ASEAN member countries. The ASEAN- China Expo has become one of China’s leading exhibitions and a destination for Chinese and ASEAN businesses and non-bloc partners. The ASEAN-China Business and Investment Summit is an important high-level dialogue forum to promote the strategic partnership between ASEAN and China, accelerate the formation of an ASEAN-China free trade area and increase economic and trade ties in the region.

The two events, held during the celebration of the 21^st anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relationship between ASEAN and China are expected to bring about new progress. Total trade value through eight ASEAN-China expos has hit more than US$12 billion. Currently, the trade turnover between ASEAN and China has increased by 37 fold reaching more than 360 billion USD and have become each other’s major partner. At last year’s summit, the two sides adopted the second five year cooperation plan to 2015 which aims to achieve two way trade turnover to 500 billion USD. Mr. Hua Ning Ning, Deputy General Secretary of the China- ASEAN Trade Council said: "In the context of China’s implementation of its 12^th five year plan and the establishment of the ASEAN Community, both sides enjoy a number of opportunities to strengthen cooperation. The formation of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area will facilitate further development for both sides over the next 20 years. I hope both sides will successfully implement the second five year plan, develop mechanisms for bilateral and multilateral cooperation including the Sub Mekong Region cooperation and Trans Tonkin Gulf Economic cooperation. I believe that China- ASEAN Cooperation is entering a new era".

Vietnam has benefited from participating in this EXPO as Guangxi province borders with 4 provinces in Vietnam. Last year, total import-exports between Vietnam and China’s Guangxi province valued at 7 billion USD and 3.2 billion USD so far this year, up 22.7% against the same period last year. AS an active member of ASEAN, Vietnam has always tried to promote cooperation between ASEAN and China. Most significantly, Vietnam fulfilled its task as a dialogue partner between ASEAN and China in 2011. Vietnam consistently pursues a policy of strengthening cooperation for the interests of all parties and for prosperity in the region. In an address at the Conference of ASEAN China Friendship Associations, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan stressed: "The ASEAN-China relationship is one of the world’s most dynamic and effective partnerships. Vietnam will continue to support the ongoing efforts of ASEAN and China to enhance their multi-faceted ties. Being close neighbors, Vietnam and China have over the past 2 decades witnessed positive developments in their relations. Vietnam always prioritizes the development of a strategic partnership with China".

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s participation at the ASEAN China EXPO and the ASEAN China Trade and Investment Summit aims at increasing political trust and showing the Vietnamese Party and State’s policies of developing the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with China.

Anh Huyen