Viet Nam's turnover from exports to China during the period reached $15.5 billion, 14.6 per cent higher than in 2014. — Photo Bizlive.vn

HA NOI (Biz Hub) —  Representatives from more than 20 Chinese enterprises as well as Vietnamese firms attended a Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) business forum in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

The event offered a good opportunity to Chinese firms to seek investment and business opportunities and to establish ties with Vietnamese distributors.

Deputy head of the VCCI's International Relations Division Pham Quang Thinh said China was Viet Nam's largest trade partner over the last decade.

The country continued to be a leading importer of various goods from Viet Nam, such as computers and components, natural rubber, coal and rice, he said.

Thinh said the ASEAN-China free trade area took effect from the end of 2015, with the trade tariff on 7,000 commodities now cut to zero.

Zhang Shuai, who led the Chinese business delegation, said Chinese enterprises were very interested in the Vietnamese market, which had a large number of consumers and a stable and favourable business climate.

These advantages, along with the geographical proximity of the two nations, were expected to enhance connections between the two countries' enterprises, he said.

Trade between the two countries recorded a strong boost in recent years, hitting nearly US$60.5 billion in 2015, up 14 per cent against the previous year. Viet Nam's turnover from exports to China during the period reached $15.5 billion, 14.6 per cent higher than in 2014.

Viet Nam mainly ships computers, electronics, fibre and vegetables, besides cassava to China, while importing machines, cameras, textiles and steel, besides fertilisers from China.— VNS