(MPI) - Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung delivered a speech while attending the eigth Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, China from September 13-14.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung adresses his speech. Photo: MPI

Adressing the event, Minister Dung stressed that Vietnam acts as a bridge in connecting China and Southeast Asian countries, therefore cooperation between Vietnam and China within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework aims to promote regional cooperation and linkage.

The economic cooperation between the two countries has flourished based on the growing Vietnam-China friendship and consolidated polical trust. As of August 2023, Chinese investors have nearly 4,000 projects worth 26 billion USD, ranking 6th among 143 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam.

China was the second biggest investor in the Southeast Asian nation with the newly-registered capital of nearly 2.7 billion USD in the first eight month this year. The country remains Vietnam’s largest trade partner, largest supply market and the second largest export market.

Minister Dung said Vietnam has implemented three strategic breakthroughs of institutional reform, infrastructure development and human resources improvement.

 The country has renewed its growth model on the basis of science, technology and innovation, human resources development, digital transformation and green transformation to achieve its net-zero emission target by 2050 and become a high-income nation in 2045, he added.

He hailed the role of Hong Kong in connecting the Greater Bay Area (Hong Kong-Shenzen-Guangzhou) with Vietnam and ASEAN nations, particularly in terms of science, technology, innovation, investment, finance, trade, logistics and transport.

To strengthen the performance of the BRI as a catalyst for regional cooperation and development, Minister Dung proposed to boost policy connectivity, and share information and experiences on developing a digital and green economy, and new models such as international trade free ports, smart border gates, and cross-border economic cooperation zones.

The Vietnamese minister suggested to accelerate the conntection of transport linking China, Vietnam, and other regional countries, especially railway, as well as facilitating trade activities and promoting agricutural products to each other’s market. He also called for cooperation on the spirit of “harmonious benefits and shared risks”, equality, and mutual benefit for both sides and respecting international law.

On this occasion, Minister Dung had seperate meetings with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Lee Ka-chiu, the United Arab Emirates’s Minister of Economy and leaders of businesses in Hong Kong like Sunwah Group, Swire Pacific, Jardine Matheson and Hong Kong Exchanges.

Hong Kong businesses expressed their hope to invest Vietnam in the fields of finance, trade, innovation, real estate, aircraft maintenance, and support Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises and farmers to improve their efficiency of production and export of agricultural products./.

Bao Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment