Enhancing cross-border trade connectivity

On the afternoon of May 29, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang and Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Luo Xinning co-chaired the conference reviewing the 2024 - 2026 Action Plan for implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and the People’s Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Attending the conference on the Vietnamese side were representatives of units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, including the Department of Foreign Market Development, the Trade Promotion Agency, the Agency for Industry, the Agency of Foreign Trade, and the E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency; representatives from localities sharing borders with Guangxi (Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Quang Ninh provinces); the Vietnam Trade Office Branch in Nanning (Guangxi); and Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade.

On the Chinese side, participants included the Consul General of China in Ho Chi Minh City, leaders of Guangxi’s departments and agencies, including the General Office of the Regional Government, the Department of Commerce, the Foreign Affairs Office, the Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Industrial Park Administration Office, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the Development and Reform Commission, as well as representatives from border cities adjacent to Vietnam such as Chongzuo, Baise and Fangchenggang.

Addressing the conference, Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang welcomed the Guangxi delegation to Vietnam and conveyed sincere regards to the authorities and people of Liuzhou, Guangxi, following the losses caused by the earthquake that struck on May 18.

She highly appreciated both sides’ prompt coordination in completing the necessary procedures to organize the review conference on this occasion, as well as the successful conclusion at the technical level of important cooperation documents, including the 2026 Priority Task List for implementing the Memorandum on strengthening economic and trade cooperation and the Agreement on AI training cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade and Guangxi International Business Vocational College.

At the conference, representatives from the Department of Foreign Market Development under Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Guangxi Department of Commerce - the two focal agencies responsible for implementing the Memorandum on Vietnam - China economic and trade cooperation presented the review report on the 2024 - 2026 Action Plan, assessing key achievements, identifying challenges requiring further attention, and outlining orientations for future coordination.

Regarding major outcomes achieved under the three-year action plan, the Department of Foreign Market Development noted that, through close coordination between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Guangxi authorities, Vietnam - Guangxi trade continued to expand; customs clearance at border gates, crossings and customs facilities remained stable; procedures became faster and more convenient; progress was made in opening and upgrading border gates and crossings; infrastructure supporting import-export activities was continuously improved, strengthening cross-border connectivity and trade capacity; pilot implementation of smart border gates recorded initial progress; and trade and investment promotion activities were carried out in diversified and effective formats from central to local levels.

However, the department also highlighted several areas requiring further improvement in Vietnam - Guangxi economic and trade cooperation, including signs of slowing trade growth, underutilization of border infrastructure, particularly in the Mong Cai - Dongxing area despite relatively comprehensive investment and the need to further innovate trade promotion activities by diversifying connection models and combining B2B and B2C approaches to generate more tangible benefits for businesses.

Based on these assessments, leaders of the Department of Foreign Market Development proposed that both sides continue deepening economic and trade cooperation in a more practical, efficient and sustainable manner, with trade facilitation and supply chain connectivity as central priorities. They also called for improved utilization of border infrastructure, accelerated development of smart border gates, and innovation in trade promotion to create new growth momentum for Vietnam - Guangxi cooperation.

Speaking at the conference, Vice Chairwoman Luo Xinning outlined several areas of particular interest to the Chinese side in future economic and trade cooperation with Vietnam, including: jointly promoting the development of the Dongxing (China) - Mong Cai (Vietnam) cross-border economic cooperation zone; coordinating the early establishment of a planning task force and project development mechanism on the Vietnamese side for smart border gates at Youyiguan - Huu Nghi and Puzhai - Tan Thanh; advancing cross-border industrial cooperation; jointly organizing the 23rd China - ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO); exploring feasible measures to shorten the issuance time for VR certification for imported components, spare parts and fully assembled electric vehicles from China; studying mechanisms for railway data sharing; initiating preparations for the 2027 - 2029 Action Plan; inviting Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang to attend the ASEAN Fruit Festival in Guangxi on June 18; encouraging Vietnam to strengthen inspection and quarantine procedures for fresh fruit exports entering China through Guangxi border gates; and optimizing the trade structure between Vietnam and Guangxi.

Responding to proposals directly related to the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s mandate, Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang affirmed that Vietnam consistently attaches importance to cross-border economic cooperation with China.

Regarding the cross-border economic cooperation zone, she emphasized that this issue has received special attention from senior leaders of both countries and continues to be reflected in the 2026 Vietnam - China Joint Statement. She proposed that Guangxi encourage China’s Ministry of Commerce to complete relevant procedures at an early date and closely coordinate with Vietnam to effectively implement the important common understandings reached by leaders of the two Parties and States.

Regarding the smart border gate model, the Deputy Minister stressed that Vietnam places high importance on implementing pilot projects in Lang Son and Quang Ninh provinces and called on local authorities to continue coordinating closely to ensure effective implementation of approved projects.

On industrial cooperation between Mong Cai (Vietnam) and Dongxing (China), she emphasized that cross-border industrial cooperation is important for strengthening linkages and complementarities across production and supply chains. The Ministry of Industry and Trade encourages localities from both countries to coordinate closely and propose cooperation initiatives based on actual local conditions while ensuring compliance with agreed principles.

The Deputy Minister also welcomed the invitations to attend the 23rd CAEXPO and the ASEAN Fruit Festival in Guangxi and proposed that Guangxi provide active support for Vietnamese enterprises participating in trade promotion events and exhibitions in the region.

At the same time, she proposed that Guangxi recognize testing results issued by Vietnamese quarantine and inspection laboratories, encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in inspection and quarantine facilities in Vietnam, and diversify imports from Vietnam to gradually contribute to balancing trade and optimizing the bilateral trade structure.

Creating new momentum for Vietnam - Guangxi cooperation

At the conference, Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang also put forward several specific proposals to strengthen economic and trade relations with Guangxi in a more effective and substantive manner, including: (i) actively coordinating bilateral mechanisms to reinforce production and supply chains and develop sustainable agricultural supply chains; (ii) studying mechanisms for cargo coordination and traffic distribution at border gates to reduce congestion risks during peak periods; (iii) supporting electricity interconnection cooperation between Vietnam and China; (iv) encouraging Guangxi enterprises to invest in AI application projects in industry and support Vietnamese enterprises in deep-processing agricultural production; and (v) organizing business delegations and purchasing missions to major trade fairs in Vietnam while coordinating with Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade to diversify product promotion activities, distribution chain connections, and support exports of Vietnamese specialty products to the Chinese market under the “Sharing Major Markets - Export to China” initiative.

Vice Chairwoman Luo Xinning highly appreciated Vietnam’s proposals and affirmed that the issues discussed were all important matters in Vietnam - China economic and trade cooperation. She expressed confidence that Guangxi would continue close coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and northern border localities of Vietnam to advance the substantive implementation of agreed cooperation initiatives.

The conference also featured remarks and exchanges from representatives of border localities in Vietnam and Guangxi, who proposed orientations for strengthening coordination in the coming period.

Within the framework of the conference, and under the witness of Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang and Vice Chairwoman Luo Xinning, representatives from the Department of Foreign Market Development and the Guangxi Department of Commerce exchanged the 2026 Priority Task List for implementing the 2024 - 2026 Action Plan under the Memorandum on strengthening economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry andTrade and the People’s Government of Guangxi. Representatives from Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade and Guangxi International Business Vocational College also exchanged an agreement on cooperation in artificial intelligence training.

The conference took place in a sincere and friendly atmosphere, with both sides reaching consensus on numerous important issues. Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang expressed confidence that economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Guangxi would continue to develop strongly and become a model for cooperation between Vietnam and localities across China.

According to data from the China Customs, total import-export turnover between Guangxi and Vietnam reached USD 43.51 billion in 2025, up 4.77% year-on-year.

As of the end of April 2026, Vietnam - Guangxi trade turnover reached USD 14.4 billion, up 3.13% compared with the same period of 2025. Of this, Guangxi’s exports to Vietnam reached USD 11.8 billion, down 2.27%, while imports from Vietnam totaled USD 2.54 billion, up 38.84%. By the end of 2025, Vietnam had remained Guangxi’s largest trading partner for 26 consecutive years.