The Secretary of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee, Vietnam, meets with the Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

On the afternoon of February 20, in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, as part of the 2025 Spring Meeting between the Provincial Party Secretaries and the 16th Joint Working Committee Conference between Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang, and Ha Giang provinces of Vietnam and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, Mr. Hoang Van Nghiem, Secretary of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee and Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Lang Son Province (Vietnam), met with Mr. Chen Gang, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Secretary of the Party Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.

Attending the meeting, on behalf of Lang Son province, there were Mr. Duong Xuan Huyen, member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; members in the Provincial Party Standing Committee; leaders of departments, sectors and leaders of border districts of Lang Son province.

During the meeting, the secretaries of both the province and the region discussed and exchanged information on the economic and social cooperation results between Lang Son Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in recent times. The discussion focused on evaluating the cooperation process in resolving difficulties in customs clearance at border crossings between the two sides, particularly the collaboration in implementing the pilot Smart Border Gate Project.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Hoang Van Nghiem, Secretary of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Lang Son Province, emphasized that Lang Son Province and Guangxi have closely coordinated in directing party agencies, departments, sectors, and border districts on both sides to strengthen exchanges and dialogue. This collaboration has helped promptly address obstacles in facilitating immigration and import-export activities, improving customs clearance capacity at border crossings, and organizing vibrant cultural, tourism, and trade exchange activities. Additionally, both sides have actively cooperated to resolve institutional issues and accelerate the pilot implementation of the smart border gate at the Huu Nghi (Vietnam) – Youyi Guan (China) international border crossing.

Thanks to the close cooperation between the two sides, trade activities between Vietnam and China have seen positive growth. Specifically, in 2024, the total import-export turnover through Lang Son's border gates reached 66.9 billion USD, an increase of 16.9 billion USD compared to 2023, accounting for a significant portion of the total trade turnover between Vietnam and China. This clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of both sides’ strategy in investing in transportation infrastructure, digital transformation, and developing the border gate system.

The Secretary of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee requested that the Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China) continue to direct party committees, authorities, associations, mass organizations, citizens, and businesses on both sides to strengthen exchanges, delegation visits, and cooperation programs in cadre training. Additionally, both sides should continue reporting and recommending to their respective governments to accelerate cooperation in railway infrastructure construction, ensuring early connectivity for key routes such as Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong, Lang Son – Hanoi, and Mong Cai – Ha Long – Hai Phong. He also proposed researching non-refundable aid to develop and complete detailed planning and a pre-feasibility study report for the Lang Son – Hanoi railway line, integrating supply chain, production, and logistics cooperation to leverage the potential of trans-Asian economic corridors. Furthermore, both sides should enhance "soft connectivity" at border crossings. In 2025, the province and region should jointly finalize documents for submission to the relevant authorities to officially open the Binh Nghi – Ping Er Guan bilateral border gate (near border marker no.1035) and request their governments to upgrade the Chi Ma – Ai Dian bilateral border gate to an international border gate. Additionally, both parties should propose to higher authorities the upgrading of border passageways and dedicated transport routes at the Huu Nghi – Youyi Guan international border gate to function as an international gateway. In the short term, the two sides should implement a pilot program allowing third-country goods to be cleared through the dedicated cargo transport route at border markers no. 1088/2–1089 (Tan Thanh – Puzhai), ensuring the effective implementation of the smart border gate model in this area. The two sides should actively study, discuss, and agree on amendments and supplements to the Vietnam–China Road Transport Agreement and its implementation protocols, along with the three legal documents on border management, to align with the reality of expanded lanes and transportation connectivity for the smart border gate system.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Chen Gang, Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, expressed his pleasure in meeting with the Secretary of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee and emphasized the increasingly close and strong relationship between the province and the region.

He proposed that in the coming time, the two sides continue to promote friendly exchanges, maintain and restore smooth trade activities at border crossings, strengthen economic and trade cooperation, and fully restore immigration activities at the border gates. He also emphasized the need for continued collaboration in various fields, particularly in supporting each other in implementing the smart border gate system, aiming for the joint rollout of this model by 2025.

At the meeting, the Secretary of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee (Vietnam) and the Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China) reached a basic consensus that in 2025, the province and the region will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, contributing to building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future of strategic significance at the local level.