This year, Vietnam has sent 61 businesses and provincial units to the event, spanning from July 23-28, to organise 124 booths introducing diverse products, especially farm produce.

Pham Thi Thu Hien, Director of the Quang Ninh Seafood Trading and Production Co. Ltd, said that this is the first time Quang Ninh has sent a delegation to the event, aiming to seek trade partners and explore the demands of Yunnan to provide more local aquatic products to this market.

After COVID-19 pandemic, Yunnan’s demands for Vietnamese products have broaden from wooden furniture and handicrafts to farm produce, processed food and footwear. Meanwhile, Vietnamese firms have paid increasing attention to this potential market.

Ha Duc Binh, Director of the Industrial Expansion and Trade Promotion Centre under the Department of Industry and Trade of Lao Cai province, said that as part of the cooperation programme between Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and the administration of Yunnan, every year, businesses of Lao Cai and Vietnam have received support from the ministry to participate in the CSA Expo and the Kunming Import and Export Fair.

This is a good opportunity for Vietnamese firms to introduce their products, especially fruits and endemic agricultural products, to the market and bring Vietnamese agricultural products closer to Chinese consumers.

According to Binh, currently, the connection between Vietnam's border localities and China is becoming increasingly smooth, creating favourable conditions for Vietnam's export products to reach the Southwest China market.

An upturn has been seen in Vietnam’s export revenue to China in recent years, which is expected to expand at least 15% this year.