Chongqing - The China-Vietnam Business and Logistics Cooperation Dialogue and the arrival of the Vietnam-China train took place in Chongqing on November 8, 2024, with witnessing participants from both countries, including government leaders and business representatives.
The events focused on expanding economic cooperation and enhancing Chongqing's role as a key strategic hub for trade and logistics in Western China.
The China-Vietnam Business and Logistics Cooperation Dialogue began with a promotional video showcasing Vietnam’s business environment, offering insights into the country's potential for investment and trade. Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh spoke, underscoring the importance of deepening ties between the two nations. He noted that China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and stressed the role of Chongqing in expanding the partnership. The Prime Minister expressed optimism about future cooperation, particularly fostering deeper exchanges and exploring new opportunities for both countries.
Chongqing's Mayor Hu Henghua welcomed the Vietnamese delegation, expressing appreciation for their efforts to promote stronger economic ties. He emphasized the city's commitment to continuing support for bilateral business ventures, highlighting policies to improve the business climate and encourage growth.
The event featured presentations from business leaders representing both countries. These highlighted their companies' strengths and explored potential areas for collaboration in sectors like telecommunications, logistics, energy, and agriculture. These discussions laid the groundwork for future trade partnerships, injecting new energy into bilateral cooperation.
Chongqing and Vietnam share a lengthy trade history, with the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor playing a pivotal role in facilitating economic exchanges. In 2024, trade between Chongqing and Vietnam reached 27.42 billion RMB, and Chongqing’s direct investment in Vietnam grew by 32.7%. This growing cooperation is a testament to the success of the land-sea corridor in strengthening ties between the two regions.
In a related development, the China-Vietnam train arrived in Chongqing on November 8, 2024, further strengthening bilateral trade. The train, loaded with control panels, material rolls, plastic toys, and more, marked an important step in the growing trade relationship. With a total of 26 containers, the shipment was valued at approximately 90 million RMB.
The cross-border rail service began in August 2024 and is part of the broader initiative to strengthen the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, a critical trade route linking China and ASEAN countries. Since its launch, the service has facilitated 132 trains, transporting 4,224 containers worth 1.01 billion RMB. The rail link has significantly boosted trade and logistics between the two nations.
The service aligns with China and Vietnam's shared strategic goals of deepening economic integration. Chongqing is playing a key role in the China-Vietnam economic communication, and the cross-border rail link is expected to continue driving trade growth and fostering closer economic ties between the two countries.
As the collaboration between China and Vietnam deepens, the development of key infrastructure, such as the land-sea corridor and cross-border rail services, will continue to be central to unlocking new opportunities for both nations.