Economic and trade ties between China’s Chongqing city and Vietnam have been growing strongly, with Vietnam’s exports to the centrally-run city soaring by over 86% during January-September to more than US$4.5 billion.

Pan Ling, head of the municipal Commerce Commission’s Office of Asian-African Markets, said trade between Chongqing and Vietnam surged 158% last year, adding that the city wants to expand economic and trade ties with and buy more farm produce from ASEAN and Vietnam.

It also wants to expand cooperation with Vietnamese enterprises on manufacturing and industrial assemblies, he said. He also welcomed Vietnamese and ASEAN firms to Chongqing to develop business, and encouraged Chongqing enterprises to extend cooperation with the country and the bloc.

According to municipal authorities, Chongqing has established friendly ties with HCM City and northern Cao Bang and Quang Ninh provinces. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chongqing conducted 34 flights to ASEAN member states, including 31 carrying passengers and three carrying cargo. Among them were two direct flights to Hanoi and HCM City.

In recent years, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and other Vietnamese areas have become major overseas destinations for visitors from Chongqing. The city invited nearly 10 Vietnamese travel agencies to its Global Travel Agents Conference, while bilateral cultural and tourism exchange has been held regularly.

On the back of existing achievements, the potential for further cooperation between Chongqing and Vietnam remains huge. Their businesses could seize opportunities to enhance trade, contributing to developing economic links between both sides.