Over recent years, the strategic cooperative ties between Da Nang and Chinese localities have seen positive results.

Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh (left) congratulating staff of the Chinese Consulate General in Da Nang on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of the National Day of the People's Republic of China. Photo: L.P

In particular, Da Nang and Chinese localities have focused on boosting cultural, educational and sports exchanges, thereby contributing to further strengthening their comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership.

During his recent visit to the Chinese Consulate General in Da Nang on the occasion of the 72^nd anniversary of the National Day of the People's Republic of China (October 1), municipal People's Committee Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh expressed his delight at fruitful outcomes from the bilateral cooperation programmes with Chinese localities in recent years.

According to a spokesperson for the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs, the friendly relationship between Da Nang and China has been established for a long time and is progressing well.

He made it crystal clear that Da Nang has maintained many high-ranking delegation exchanges with China.

Over the past years, many high-ranking Chinese delegations have visited Da Nang. Specifically, General Secretary cum President of the People's Republic of China (PRC) Xi Jinping attended the APEC Economic Leaders' Week (AELW) in Da Nang in 2017. In addition, many delegations of high-ranking government officials in China have visited Da Nang’s leaders to discuss their bilateral cooperation programmes.

Similarly, some of Da Nang’s leaders have already paid official visits to such Chinese provinces and cities as Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Sichuan to encourage investors there to invest in Da Nang in the aspects of investment, trade and tourism.

Most notably, Da Nang has established friendly relations and official cooperative ties with the Chinese provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, Macau Special Administrative Region, and Kunming city (Yunnan Province).

Especially, the opening of the Consulate General of China in Da Nang in 2017 has significantly contributed to stepping up economic and trade cooperation and friendship exchanges between two sides.

In the field of investment, as of June 2021, Da Nang has attracted a combined total of 83 Chinese-invested projects with a total investment capital of USD 113.4 million (including projects from Hong Kong and Taiwan, Macau). The majority of these projects have involved in the fields of restaurants, electronic equipment import consultancy, and silicon and honey production.

From 2016 to now, about 22 delegations of Chinese enterprises have visited Da Nang to learn about the city’s investment climate.

Most notably, many trade promotion programmes with China have bee organised regularly, including the Da Nang - Shandong business connection programme (2017), the China - Viet Nam border fair (2018), and the 15^th China-ASEAN Expo in Guangxi (2018).

Thanks to this, the import-export values between Da Nang and Chinese partners have increased gradually over the years. During the 2016-2020 period, Da Nang's exports to China reached USD 40 million per year, to Taiwan about USD 20 million, and to Hong Kong USD 75 million. Meanwhile, the city’s import turnover from China was estimate at USD 200 million per year, from Taiwan at USD 65 million USD, and from Hong Kong at USD 40 million.

China is one of the main sources of visitors to Da Nang. Over the past times, Da Nang has ramped up its efforts to attract more tourists from China through the organisation of joint tourism promotional events, roadshows, and media familiarisation trips.

Up to now, the Da Nang Department of Tourism has signed memoranda of understanding on tourism cooperation with the Dalian Culture and Tourism Bureau in Liaoning Province, and the Chengdu Tourism Bureau in Sichuan Province, China.

In the field of education, many universities across Da Nang have established the Chinese language departments. Every year, these local universities have actively been involved in organising exchanges of students and lecturers with Chinese universities.

“The Da Nang government spoke highly the Chinese Consulate General in Da Nang for its active involvement in fostering the bilateral cooperative ties with Da Nang in recent years. Hopefully, the representative office will continue to do its utmost to boost cooperation between Da Nang and Chinese partners in the time to come" said Vice Chairman Minh.

Reporting by LAM PHUONG - Translating by M.DUNG