As part of their business trip to China on Wednesday, the group of Da Nang’s officials, led by Chairman of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee of the city Le Van Trung, organised a seminar to promote Da Nang's investment, business and trading opportunities in Beijing.

Chairman of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Da Nang Le Van Trung speaking at the seminar. Photo: Working delegation

It was attended by Trade Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in China Nong Duc Lai; along with representatives of major associations in China such as the China Harmony Business Association, the China Centre for Promoting the Development of Small and Medium‑sized Enterprises (SMEs), the China Association of Trade in Services, and the International Investment Promotion Association, and 30 typical enterprises of the associations.

In his remarks at the opening of the seminar, Chairman of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Da Nang Le Van Trung emphasised Beijing is the capital with the highest development index of China and is a place rich in cultural and historical traditions. “We are committed to continuing to create favourable conditions for investors from Beijing, and China as a whole, to carry out investment and business activities in the city in the time to come”, he added.

Chairman of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Da Nang Le Van Trung (left) presents a souvenir to Vietnamese Ambassador to Beijing Ninh Thanh Cong. Photo: Working group

Mr. Nong Duc Lai, Trade Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in China, praised Da Nang for its competitive advantages and favourable conditions to attract investment and carry out production, business, trade, cultural exchange, and tourism development activities.

Mr. Lai also voiced his hope that through the event, Chinese partners will have a deeper understanding of the potential and strengths of Viet Nam, including the beautiful city of Da Nang, and explore opportunities to expand cooperation and trade, thereby bringing practical benefits to businesses and people of the two countries.

Mr. Trung noted that opinions made by Chinese associations and enterprises at the seminar will be an important basis for Da Nang to build mechanisms, policies, orientations, and plans for its further development. The city is concentrating on improving the quality of foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction activities, especially from the Chinese market.

Da Nang has so far attracted more than 1,020 FDI projects totalling over US$ 4.3 billion, including 93 Chinese-invested projects with a total registered capital of nearly US$ 118 million. Many projects have had a positive impact on the city's socio-economic development in recent times. Da Nang's export turnover of goods to China reaches US$ 135 million/year on average, whilst its import turnover of goods from China is estimated at US$ 305 million/year.

The Da Nang delegation offered flowers in memory of President Ho Chi Minh in the courtyard of the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing. Photo: Delegation

After the seminar ended, the Da Nang delegation visited the Embassy of Viet Nam in Beijing.

Receiving the delegation, Ambassador Ninh Thanh Cong expressed his delight at the fine development of the relationships between Da Nang and a number of provinces and cities of China such as Shandong.

He also highly lauded the visit made by the Da Nang officials in the context of the very good development of the Viet Nam - China relations. He stressed the need for Da Nang to make most its advantages to develop the economy, call on investment, and connect trade with Chinese provinces and cities.

Mr. Cong pledged that the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing will support and create the most favourable conditions for Da Nang's activities in China.

The working delegation asked for support from the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing, and Chinese authorities, airlines and travel companies to promote the reopening of direct flights between Da Nang and some major cities of China, thereby enhancing the bilateral cooperation in areas of interest to both sides, including tourism.

Chairman Trung said China was one of the countries that have successfully built many free trade zones. Therefore, he hoped that the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing will introduce a number of successful models of China for Da Nang.

In addition, Da Nang asked for support from the Chinese government in terms of short-term scholarship programmes; exchange of experiences in urban management and planning; and cultural and sports, and people-to-people exchange activities.

The delegation meeting with the Centre for Promoting the Development of Small and Medium‑sized Enterprises (SMEs), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China. Photo: Working delegation

Also on the same day, the city delegation had a working session with the China Centre for Promoting the Development of Small and Medium‑sized Enterprises.

Accordingly, the city asked for a helping hand from the centre to advertise its potential, projects, and incentives for foreign investors to the association's members.

A representative of the centre invited the city to attend an event held on October 25 in Shandong by theChina International Cooperation Association of SMEs (CICASME). The centre plans to pay a visit to Da Nang in the near future.

Reporting by the working delegation - Translating by M.DUNG