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E-mail China.org.cn, July 7, 2024
The Voice of Vietnam:
Mr. Lan mentioned Vietnam several times during his introduction and answers just now. In terms of promoting high-quality development, how is Guangxi advancing cooperation with Vietnam, especially in the process of building a convenient operating environment for domestic and international markets? As a province with close cooperation with Vietnam, what new considerations or measures does Guangxi have in mind in the new phase to consolidate and strengthen Sino-Vietnamese relations? Thank you.
Lan Tianli:
Thank you to the reporter from Vietnam. I provided relevant information earlier regarding the establishment of a convenient operating environment for domestic and international markets. In terms of deepening cooperation with Vietnam, I would like to first share a short story with everyone. Last August, a 4-year-old boy from Quang Ninh province in Vietnam, which neighbors Guangxi, fell critically ill with a rare and severe condition. Medical teams from Guangxi and Vietnam closely collaborated, initiating a cross-border medical rescue channel. They facilitated fast-tracked customs clearance, coordinated the transfer, and promptly delivered the critically ill boy to the National Regional Medical Center in Nanning, Guangxi. Following expert consultation, the boy was diagnosed with a rare condition known as Pompe disease. After careful treatment, the boy's condition stabilized, turning the situation from critical to safe. In recent years, there have been over 600 cases like this one where critically ill patients from Vietnam have been treated in Guangxi hospitals through this rescue channel. I believe this lifeline connecting the people of China and Vietnam vividly exemplifies the community of shared future between our two countries.
Guangxi and Vietnam are connected by mountains and rivers, enjoy geographical proximity and cultural affinity. Our traditional friendship has withstood the test of time and grown even stronger, resulting in very close exchange and cooperation. As China-Vietnam open cooperation continues to deepen, Vietnam has become Guangxi's largest trade partner for the last 25 consecutive years. In 2023, the total value of imports and exports between Guangxi and Vietnam reached 253.95 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 29.2%. From January to May of this year, the total value of imports and exports reached 120.82 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 36.8%.
The building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance gives Guangxi an important mission and task, as well as new historic opportunities for its opening-up and development.
We will accelerate interconnectivity. In terms of railways, the Nanning-Chongzuo section of the Nanning-Pingxiang high-speed railway was completed and opened for use in 2022, and the Chongzuo-Pingxiang section's construction has been sped up. The Fangchenggang-Dongxing high-speed railway started operation in 2023. In terms of highways, Guangxi has planned 13 expressways that lead to Vietnam, with 7 already completed and 6 currently under construction. The China-Vietnam Joint Statement proposes to "promote the cross-border standard-gauge railway connectivity between China and Vietnam, and conduct research on the Dong Dang-Hanoi and the Mong Cai-Ha Long-Haiphong standard-gauge railway projects in due course." This will further facilitate infrastructure "hard connectivity" between Guangxi and Vietnam. We are striving to promote related work on a local level.
We will deepen cross-border industrial cooperation. Last year, Guangxi's imports and exports of intermediate goods with Vietnam grew rapidly. Their proportion in the total value of imports and exports between the two sides ranked among the top nationwide. In the first five months of this year, Guangxi's imports and exports of intermediate goods with Vietnam increased by 46%. This shows that the collaborative work of building China-Vietnam cross-border industrial chains and supply chains via Guangxi is progressing rapidly. We will attract and support more enterprises to settle in Pingxiang, Dongxing and other border and harbor industrial parks in Guangxi. Based on the smart ports and logistics channels connecting China and Vietnam, we will create cross-border industrial chains and supply chains featuring complementary strengths and mutual benefits.
We will strengthen people-to-people exchange and communication in many other areas. An annual exchange meeting between Party secretaries of China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and four Vietnamese border provinces has been held for 9 consecutive years, gradually deepening bilateral exchange in local governance. Over the past decade, nearly 10,000 young people from Guangxi and Vietnam have engaged in exchange visits and friendship activities. The China and Vietnam Border Inhabitants Gala, mainly featuring art performances and folk culture, has been held annually in border cities and counties. The Dongxing (China) -Mong Cai (Vietnam) Friendly Football Match at Lantern Festival has been held 29 times. Border residents from both sides have become friends through football and have celebrated the festival together. Such scenes have become a norm. The Detian-Ban Gioc Waterfall cross-border tourism cooperation zone, the first of its kind in our country, is on a trial run. We will continue to enrich the platforms of interaction and integration between the two sides, so that Guangxi will make more contributions to consolidating a traditional friendship between China and Vietnam.
Thank you.
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