China To Assist Vietnam In Cross-Border Railway Development

China has agreed to assist Vietnam in developing cross-border railway projects and to expand imports of Vietnamese agricultural products, according to Vietnam’s official media.

The commitments were made during a visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Vietnam on Sunday.

During talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Li pledged that China would open its market further to high-quality fruits, seafood, and other products from Vietnam.

China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $172 billion in 2023.

The two leaders also discussed deepening cooperation in diplomacy, national defense, and public security, as well as resolving disputes in the South China Sea through peaceful means.

The visit followed tensions between the two nations after a recent incident involving Chinese law enforcement and Vietnamese fishers near the Paracel Islands.

In addition to the railway agreements, the two countries signed 10 cooperation deals, including plans for cross-border economic cooperation zones and implementing QR-code cross-border payment services.