The workshop was a chance for both sides to identify potential opportunities and challenges, to find out measures to boost co-operation in trade, commerce and investment in the future.
Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Nguyen Van Tho affirmed that Vietnam and China are two neighbouring countries with a long-lasting traditional friendship. Despite some existing problems, the bilateral trade and investment co-operation has seen positive developments, he noted. The two sides are working to implement the five-year development plan on Vietnam-China economic and commercial co-operation in the 2012-2016 period, the diplomat said.
According to the Chinese side, the two-way trade revenue between Vietnam and China reached over US$74 billion in the January-November period, up 26% over the corresponding period last year.
China has been the largest trade partner of Vietnam in the past ten years and Vietnam has become the second largest trade partner of China among ASEAN countries. China is now the ninth largest investor in Vietnam with a total investment of nearly US$8 billion.
Speakers at the workshop all agreed that there are huge potential and opportunities for Vietnam-China trade co-operation but also pointed out challenges and problems of the current bilateral economic relations.
They recommended the two sides promote their potential and viewpoints of common interests. They also suggested they address Vietnam's trade deficit with China, improve the quality of the two sides' investment co-operation, and develop the infrastructure system in accordance with the two countries' development orientations, among others.
