Hanoi (VNA) – Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham BinhMinh delivered a pre-recorded speech at the opening of the 19th ASEAN-China Expo (CAEXPO) and the 19th China-ASEAN Business Investment Summit (CABIS) inNanning, the capital city of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, onSeptember 16.

Hailing the important achievements that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Chinahave gained over the years, especially the establishment of a comprehensivestrategic partnership for peace, security, prosperity and sustainabledevelopment.

ASEAN and China have continued to be each other’s largesttrade partner with two-way trade reaching over 669 billion USD in 2021. Chinais the biggest investor in many ASEAN countries. Meanwhile, bilateralcooperation in disease control, poverty reduction, culture, people-to-peopleexchanges have also been strengthened, benefiting people of both sides, according to the Deputy PM.

Minh underlined that amid the complicated and unexpectedchanges in the regional and global situation, ASEAN countries and China shouldcontinue to strengthen cooperation in dealing with challenges and speed upsustainable post-pandemic recovery.

He stressed the need to make fulluse of opportunities from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP) and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), thus bolsteringbilateral trade in a balanced and sustainable manner.

The Deputy PM suggested the ChineseGovernment create favourable conditions for the increased import of goods and high-qualityfarm produce from Vietnam as well as other ASEAN countries via Vietnam.

He asked for China’s coordination in maintaining stable supply and production chains as well as smooth customsclearance activities in all circumstances, diversifying goods transportation methodsby road, rail, sea and air, promoting partnershipss in the fields of innovation,digital transformation, digital economy, and e-commerce, and strengtheningcollaboration in the fields of green and sustainable development.

CAEXPO is one of the 10 leading trade fairs of China,which has been held annually since 2004. This year, Vietnam continues toparticipate in the event at the largest scale with an display area of over2,000sq.m, along with the online exhibition by 80 enterprises to introduceVietnamese strong products such as agricultural and aquatic products, processedfood, wooden furniture and handicrafts, consumer goods, as well as investment,tourism and trade services./.