Traffic infrastructure is the key to inter-regional trade, according to Deputy Director of Quang Ninh Province's Department of Industry and Trade Le Hong Giang.

Giang was speaking at the conference to promote Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic products in the Chinese market on December 2.

He said Quang Ninh has been channeling its resources into traffic infrastructure to boost commercial ties among regions.

The facilities that have been constructed or upgraded to this end include the National Highway 18C connecting Bac Van Phong Border Gate to Mong Cai City, the bridge at Hoanh Mo Border Gate, the Van Don International Airport, and the Van Ninh Seaport.

"Traffic infrastructure must be there in advance to lay the groundwork for trade," said the deputy director.

He also revealed that the Van Don - Mong Cai Highway was inaugurated on September 1. The highway links up with the Lao Cai - Ha Noi - Hai Phong - Ha Long - Van Don Highway to form the longest network of highways in Viet Nam.

It cuts the time needed to travel from Ha Noi to Mong Cai Border Gate by half, from 6 hours to 3 hours, giving a fresh impetus to inter-regional trade.

Do Van Tuan, deputy chairman of Mong Cai Municipal People's Committee, said the city is focusing its efforts on infrastructure development to promote trade.

Some of the facilities in this regard include the Bac Luan 2 Checkpoint and the iron bridge at the Km 3+4 Path, which have been built to facilitate agro-forestry-fishery exports.

Le Bien Cuong, deputy director of the Asia-Africa Market Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the department will help Quang Ninh unlock its full potential in Viet Nam - China trade relations.

He also gave trade information about the Chinese market and common problems facing Vietnamese exporters when they attempt to sell their agricultural products in the country.

China has been Viet Nam's leading trade partner for many years. Remarkably, the bilateral trade topped US$165.8 billion in 2021, of which over $41.8 billion flowed through border gates. In Quang Ninh, trade via border gates reached $12.8 billion.

China has also been a major importer of Vietnamese aquatic and agricultural products. The country consumes one fourth of the Vietnamese exports annually. However, room for improvement is still ample as Vietnamese products imported to China account for less than 3 per cent of Chinese total imports. — VNS