Chongqing (VNA) – Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on November 8 visited the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park and welcomed an ASEAN express train from Hanoi, as part of his trip to attend the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit and working visit to China.
PM Chinh visited a booth selling Vietnamese products; listen to the introduction of the operations of the Logistics Hub Park Operations Centre; and visit the wharf and panoramic view of the centre. In particular, PM Chinh and the Vietnamese delegation welcomed the ASEAN fast train from Hanoi to the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park.
The Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park has a total area of 17.93 hectares, with a construction area of 108,000 sq.m. In particular, the Chongqing dry port belongs to the land route located in the centre of the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park. Currently, the port has nearly 30 international transport companies choosing it as a gateway to penetrate into mainland China.
PM Chinh highly appreciated the strategic location and role of the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park in connecting trade. He expected that the two sides will continue to increase links with Vietnam, both by road, waterway, and railway, especially the international railway line from Vietnam through Chongqing to Central Asia and Europe to exploit the potential market but facing difficulties in transport.
Stating that rail transport has the advantage of harmonising both air and waterways, with goods transport time not too long and charges not too high, and safe, PM Chinh hoped that both sides will urgently invest in upgrading and increasing railway connectivity to remove transport bottlenecks to Central Asia and Europe.
PM Chinh proposed valuing time, brainpower and connection, reopening the "silk road" in the new era, creating the future, and cooperating for mutual benefit; and opening up new trade corridors, not only connecting Vietnam and China but also ASEAN and Central Asia and Europe. He suggested the Chinese side coordinate closely with Vietnamese partners, develop logistics, promote trade and related industries so that Vietnamese goods have more access to the Chinese market and bring Vietnamese goods to third countries, especially the Middle East and Europe.
Emphasising that with the advantage of geographical location, Vietnam has a strategy to develop into a transshipment centre for both air and waterways, with major airports and seaports that have been and will be invested in, PM Chinh affirmed that logistics development is both a requirement and a potential and advantage of Vietnam. He hoped that the Chinese side will cooperate, provide financial support, transfer science and technology, train human resources, share management experience and improve institutions to help Vietnam develop similar logistics centres.
This is the last activity of PM Chinh’s trip to China to attend the 8th GMS Summit, the 10th Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS), the 11th Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Vietnam (CLMV) Summit and working visit to China. Later on the same day, PM Chinh and the high-ranking delegation of Vietnam left Chongqing city for Hanoi./.
