Hanoi (VNA) – The 2019Guangdong (China) Import and Export Fair kicked off in Vietnam’s capital cityof Hanoi on August 28.

On display are various products likerice, coffee, rubber, cotton, garment accessories, handicrafts, cookingutensils and electric equipment.

The fair offers Vietnamese businesses achance to meet producers and discuss cooperation in such areas as machinery,electric equipment and electronics; LED and lighting technology; constructionmaterials and furniture; fashion, household utensils and food; high-techproducts and accessories.

More than 3,000 potential buyers wereinvited to the event to participate in a business networking programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony,Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai described thefair as a bridge helping businesses of the two countries connect and seekcooperation opportunities in trade, investment and tourism, helping to enhancecooperation between Vietnam and China as well as Guangdong in particular.

Vice Governor of Guangdong provinceOuyang Weimin said China is Vietnam’s biggest trade partner and Guangdong isthe country’s pioneer partner in economic and trade cooperation as well asfriendship exchange.

Statistics from the General Departmentof Vietnam Customs show that Vietnam - China trade turnover reached 106.7billion USD in 2018, up 13.5 percent year-on-year. In the first six months of2019, the bilateral trade hit 52.36 billion USD, up 11.8 percent.

Currently, 110 enterprises of Guangdongprovince are investing in Vietnam and the number is expected to increase in thetime ahead.

Trade between Vietnam and Guangdongexceeded 37 billion USD last year, accounting for a quarter of the total import-exportturnover between Vietnam and China.
A trade and investment forum was heldwithin the framework of the fair the same day.

Johnson Choi, Acting Chairman of theHong Kong-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of Sunwah Group,said Vietnam boasts advantages in terms of infrastructure, economy, technologyand others.

The Vietnamese Government has rolled out many preferential policies in aneffort to attract foreign investors, he said, adding that many partners ofSunwah have talked about projects they want to invest in Vietnam.

ZhengJianrong, Director General of Guangdong’s Department of Commerce, said as ofthe end of 2018, Guangdong had invested a combined 250 million USD in Vietnam.

Vietnam has become Guangdong’s largest trade partner in the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and received most investment from the Chineseprovince, he said.-VNA