An online seminar on China-Vietnam economic, trade and investment cooperation in the post-pandemic era was held on Nov 17.

An online seminar on China-Vietnam economic, trade and investment cooperation in the post-pandemic era is held on Nov 17. [Photo/drc.gov.cn]

Ma Jiantang, Secretary of Party Leadership Group of the Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC), Wang Yajun, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, officials from economic and international departments of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and other representatives from China and Vietnam attended the event.

An online seminar on China-Vietnam economic, trade and investment cooperation in the post-pandemic era is held on Nov 17. [Photo/drc.gov.cn]

The two sides exchanged views on topics such as strengthening China-Vietnam trade and investment, especially agricultural trade and China-Vietnam cooperation under the division of labor in the global industrial chain in the post-pandemic era.

Ma said that in 2020, China and Vietnam have supported each other and overcome the difficulties in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. They have jointly achieved major results in pandemic prevention and control, and have taken the lead in realizing economic growth from negative to positive in the world. The two countries demonstrated the unique advantages of the leadership of the Communist Party and the socialist system with facts.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam. The cooperation between the two parties has entered a new stage. The two countries have complementary resources, increasingly close economic and trade cooperation and huge potential for cooperation. A multi-level and all-round cooperation pattern has been formed.

The world is facing major changes unseen in a century. The pandemic has led to the reshaping of the international pattern and the accelerated restructuring of the supply chain. The world economic recovery still faces severe challenges and great uncertainty.

He expressed his hope that the two sides will promote economic, trade and investment cooperation in the post-pandemic era, further strengthen practical cooperation in areas such as industrial and supply chains, and enhance the level of economic, trade and investment between the two sides. DRC is willing to work with Vietnam to improve the bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation mechanism, and help Chinese companies to invest in Vietnam.

Wang said that the seminar was a useful exploration of cooperation models between the two parties in the context of the pandemic. It will make positive contributions to the next stage of experience exchange in state governance, exploring new directions and new models of cooperation, and promoting the sustained and healthy development of China-Vietnam relations under the new situation.

Consensus on a series of issues such as promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields has been reached earlier this year. The Chinese side is willing to work with Vietnam to fully implement the important consensus, to promote new achievements in the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership, to bring more benefits to the two countries and their peoples, and start a new chapter in China-Vietnam good-neighbourly friendship and cooperation.

The Vietnamese side spoke highly of the outstanding results of the CPC Central Committee's leadership in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting economic and social development. The Vietnamese side stated that Vietnam’s current pandemic prevention and control situation is good, and the experience of Vietnam and China in national defence and control of the pandemic fully demonstrates the great superiority of the socialist system under the leadership of the Communist Party.

This is the first online seminar since the establishment of the cooperative relationship between DRC and the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Vietnam in 2017. The pandemic has caused difficulties in personnel exchanges between the two parties, but the two sides have actively sought various ways to strengthen the relationship. Vietnam and China are strategic partners. The bilateral trade volume has grown, demonstrating the good prospects for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

The just-concluded Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee has drawn a blueprint for China's development in the next five years and beyond. The Vietnamese side is actively preparing for the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, to indicate the way forward for country’s development. Vietnam is willing to work with China to promote the alignment of Vietnam-China development strategies in the new era, strengthen cooperation in areas such as industrial and supply chains, create a good business environment for Chinese companies to invest in Vietnam, and promote economic, trade and investment cooperation, especially in agricultural products.

In January 2017, as witnessed by the heads of the two countries, DRC of China and the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation to establish an inter-agency cooperation mechanism and agreed to discuss trade and investment, infrastructure, and connectivity exchanges in areas of common interest.