Lang Son: Continue to promote extensive cooperation with Guangxi, China

At the Spring Meeting in 2023 between Secretaries of Provincial/Regional Party Committees and the 14th Conference of Joint Working Committee between the provinces of Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Cao Bang, Ha Giang (Vietnam) and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China), in the spirit of solidarity and friendship, the leaders of the 5 provinces/regions agreed to continue the cooperation in 5 fields, which were continuing to promote friendship exchange of delegations at all levels; enhancing exchange and cooperation between Party committees of the two sides; cultural, social exchanges and medical cooperation; cooperation in border management and cross-border crime prevention; promoting cooperation in key areas.

Through the implementation of the agreed contents of cooperation at the 2023 Spring Meeting and the 14th Conference of the Joint Working Committee between 5 provinces/regions, 2023, Lang Son province (Vietnam) achieved important results in key fields through cooperation with the Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangxi (China).

Cooperation in border trade development

In 2023, border trade cooperation between Lang Son province (Vietnam) and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China) achieved important milestones. In particular, with the efforts of Lang Son province and some central ministries and sectors, a number of Vietnamese agricultural, forestry and fishery products continued to be officially exported to the Chinese market through Huu Nghi International Border Gate.

At the same time, in 2023, the two sides also actively cooperated in improving the convenience of customs clearance of goods through border gates. Specifically, in order to restore border trade activities, import and export  of goods through the province’s border gates, implementing the directions of the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People’s Committee, departments, boards, sectors of Lang Son province proactively and actively performed tasks to improve the efficiency of customs clearance of imported and exported goods through border gates in the province.

Mr. Hoang Khanh Duy, Deputy Head in charge of the Management Board of Dong Dang – Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone, said: “In 2023, we chaired and advised the organization of 9 talks, 6 working sessions, sent 53 official letters to corresponding agencies of Guangxi, China. Through exchanges and talks, the functional agencies of both sides agreed on many contents to create favorable conditions and promote import and export of goods through border gates, to restore customs clearance activities of goods at Na Hinh – Jiaoai border gate and Na Nua – Nahua border gate… Accordingly, import and export activities through the border gates of the two side in 2023 took place smoothly, most vehicles carrying goods experienced quick customs clearance within a day.”

The leaders of Lang Son province (Vietnam) signs a framework agreement with Guangxi province (China) on piloting the construction of smart border gates (Photo: Vu Khuyen)

Regarding this issue, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dai, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade shared: “In 2023, the provincial industry and trade sector and relevant agencies of the province have promptly and effectively implemented peer-to-peer cooperation activities with Guangxi, China to ensure smooth and safe import and export activities. The clearest evidence is the timely removal and support of customs clearance of Vietnamese fresh durians to the Chinese market through Huu Nghi International Border Gate. Therefore, the turnover of fresh durians exported through Huu Nghi International Border Gate reached nearly 1.9 billion USD, the highest compared to that through land border gates nationwide.”

Promoting customs clearance of goods through Huu Nghi International Border Gate

With the efforts of the government and management agencies at the border gates, import and export activities of goods through border gates of Lang Son province in 2023 achieved positive results. Total import and export turnover of all types reached 51,990.563 million USD, an increase of 81.84% over the same period in 2022 (the number of import and export goods turnover through Lang Son province was highest ever).

Strengthening extensive cooperation in all fields

In recent years, through the Spring Meeting and the Conference of Joint Working Committee, 4 border provinces of Vietnam (Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Cao Bang, Ha Giang) and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China have built a relationship of friendship and cooperation, creating an important basis and premise for socio-economic development, cultural exchange and improving the material and spiritual life of the people.

For Lang Son province, in recent years, the province has actively the effectiveness of friendly exchanges, programs and cooperation mechanisms with the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. In particular, in 2023, through the agreed contents of cooperation under the general agreement signed at the 14th Conference of Joint Working Committee, Lang Son province (Vietnam) has continued to promote cooperation at local level with the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China).

Accordingly, in 2023, leaders of the province and region regularly maintained diplomatic activities at the same level. Additionally, they directed party committees, authorities, functional branches and mass organizations to increase exchanges with corresponding agencies of Guangxi, to improve the level of cooperation and maintain available cooperative exchange mechanisms, to promote effective exchanges and cooperation in many fields. Thereby, the role of the Joint Working Committee, exchange and cooperation mechanisms between functional branches of the two sides were well promoted, cooperation in areas of mutual interest was also focused.

Typically, in 2023, along with cooperation to develop border trade, improve the convenience of import and export of goods through border gates, cooperation in a number of other fields is also effectively implemented by the government and departments of both sides. Specifically in the field of cross-border tourism development, in 2023, the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People’s Committee directed relevant provincial agencies to actively research and promote pilot operation of Tan Thanh – Puzhaii tourism cooperation in Huu Nghi – Youyi Guan International Tourism Cooperation Area. Accordingly, from March 15, 2023, Lang Son province has officially welcomed international tourist groups through Huu Nghi International Border Gate.

In the field of health, Lang Son province (Vietnam) and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region (China) have also achieved many positive results. Accordingly, implementing cooperation agreements, Lang Son province’s health sector has coordinated with relevant agencies to continue implementing agreements on border medical quarantine. In particular, the health sector of Lang Son province has been coordinating with equivalent agencies in Guangxi, China to develop the contents of medical quarantine related to the Smart Border Gate Construction Project under the Framework Agreement on jointly promoting the pilot construction of smart border gates.

Along with the above fields, cooperation in a number of other fields such as education and training, border management, crime prevention… have also been implemented effectively by the governments and departments of both sides.

In 2023, through the contents signed at the 14th Conference of the Joint Working Committee, the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People’s Council, Provincial People’s Committee and agencies of Lang Son province signed 12 agreements and cooperation MoUs with partners of Guangxi, China, thereby continuing to promote cooperation between all levels and sectors of the two sides in key areas after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reality shows that in 2023, effectively promoting the guiding role of the Spring Meeting and the 14th Conference of the Joint Working Committee, Lang Son province (Vietnam) and the Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangxi (China), it continues to expand and enhance the cooperative partnership between the province and region, thereby continuing to ensure harmony of interests for mutual development, contributing to building and strengthening the friendly and traditional relationship between the people of Vietnam and China.