Although the COVID-19 epidemic and geopolitical fluctuations in the world have affected the global economy and trade, the Vietnam- China trade relationship has not stopped developing and achieved many remarkable achievements. .

Cargo trucks exported to the Chinese market at the international road border gate No. II Kim Thanh. (Photo: Quoc Khanh/VNA)

Specifically, China continues to be Vietnam's largest trading partner and vice versa, Vietnam has become China's sixth largest trading partner and largest among ASEAN countries.

Therefore, the official visit to China by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the invitation of General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping from October 30 to November 2, 2022 will deepen the flow of information. relations between the two countries.

Potential Neighbors

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said that Vietnam and China are two neighboring countries with a long-standing cooperative relationship. With many advantages in economic cooperation, trade and investment between the two countries, China has become the second largest export market of Vietnam with a scale of 55.9 billion USD, an increase of 37 times compared to 2002. .

If in 2002, the export turnover of crude oil products accounted for 46% of the total export turnover to the Chinese market, now it only accounts for 0.51%.

Notably, the group of processed and manufactured goods accounted for 77.6% of Vietnam's total export turnover to China.

In addition, the structure of imported goods, machinery and equipment, and input materials for domestic production and export accounted for 94.15% of the total import turnover from this market.

In the past two years, despite being negatively affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, the two countries' concerned agencies have actively connected and promptly exchanged many measures to ensure import, export and trade of goods. between businesses of the two countries is maintained smoothly; Two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and China in the past two years has still reached over 100 billion USD.

According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, in 2021, two-way trade turnover will reach 165.8 billion USD, up 24.6% over the same period in 2020.

Notably, Vietnam's fruit exports to China have made remarkable progress; In which, Vietnamese passion fruit has been piloted for official export to China since July 2022 and fresh durian exported from Vietnam is also officially cleared for the first shipment in September 2022.

According to Vietnam Customs, in the first nine months of 2022, Vietnam's export turnover to China reached $41.22 billion, up 6.22% over the same period in 2021, accounting for 14.6% of total exports. of Vietnam to the world.

Among them, the group of processed and manufactured goods reached US$ 33.52 billion, up 12.79% over the same period in 2021, accounting for 14.6% of Vietnam's export turnover of this commodity group to the world and accounting for 14.6% of the total export turnover of this product group to the world. 81.34% of Vietnam's total exports to China.

Specifically, the main export turnover items include: phones of all kinds and components; computers, electronic products and components; other machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts; cameras, camcorders and accessories; fibers, textile yarns of all kinds…

In the opposite direction, Vietnam's import turnover from China by the end of September reached 91.15 billion USD, up 12.12% over the same period in 2021, accounting for 33.08% of Vietnam's total imports. South from the world.

Some main imported items such as computers, electronic products and components; machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts; raw materials for textiles, leather and footwear; phones and accessories; chemistry; Plastic materials; complete car; auto parts and accessories; fruit and vegetable goods.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, implementing commitments in the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) so far, China has reduced taxes for more than 8,000 items imported from Vietnam; in which, there are agricultural products, fresh fruits. This has opened up many opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to access a large market.

However, with the growth of the economy and along with the population's income, China is no longer an easy market, where you can buy anything but have a selection of quality products.

Therefore, enterprises must change production methods in the direction of safety, specific standards, manage farming processes, and meet traceability requirements to be able to promote exports to the Chinese market.

Switch to official

According to experts, the period of Vietnamese goods being exported to China is over, because now China has become one of the top economies in the world, it is necessary to tighten business and consumption conditions. food safety standards.

This is also an opportunity but at the same time associated with a challenge that Vietnamese enterprises take seriously so that they can export to this market with full certificates, origin and business conditions.

In order to promote the export of goods to the Chinese market, Ms. Le Hoang Oanh, Director of the Asia-Africa Market Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), said that switching from unofficial to official export is something that industries need to do. The functions of both Vietnam and China are directed to import-export enterprises.

Therefore, businesses need to raise awareness and learn carefully about market needs and change their thinking as well as comply with this country's import regulations. This is also a stepping stone to form a favorable official goods export market between Vietnam and China.

Litchi is the preferred fruit in the Chinese market. (Photo: Mai Ngoan/VNA)

According to Mr. Tran Quoc Toan - Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), implementing the motto "safe for export" and "exporting must be safe", the Ministry of Industry and Trade recommends that localities in growing areas and businesses Export industry actively monitors the situation to regulate the amount of goods to the border in accordance with the clearance capacity, avoiding congestion of goods.

On the other hand, implementing safety measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic from farming, purchasing, packaging, processing, transporting and exporting according to the guidance of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) ) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

In addition, localities and businesses must fully meet China's requirements for traceability, quarantine testing and food safety.

In the long term, the Ministry of Industry and Trade suggested that businesses need to quickly and strongly switch to official export according to international trade principles to ensure stable and sustainable import and export.

In order to provide official information to businesses trading with the Chinese market, in addition to regular recommendations, the Import-Export Department has developed and published a Guide to Exporting Fruits and Vegetables. official entry to the Chinese market. This is a component of the Government's project on promoting and converting cross-border export activities into official form.

The manual provides the necessary information to support the above-mentioned subjects to convert their production and export activities across borders to official form, and overcome existing weaknesses.

This not only creates a driving force to improve the quality of goods, fully meeting the requirements and technical standards of not only the Chinese market but also other markets around the world, contributing to the diversification of products. market, ensuring the sustainable development of agricultural exports.

At the 11th session of the Vietnam-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Committee, Assistant Minister of Commerce Li Fei affirmed that the Chinese Ministry of Commerce attaches great importance to the development of cooperation relations. economy and trade with Vietnam. At the same time, he highly appreciated the achievements of the two sides over the past time.

Along with that, propose some directions and measures to further promote the scale of bilateral trade such as encouraging Vietnamese enterprises to participate more in important trade promotion activities in China such as the China Trade Fair. China International Import Expo, China-ASEAN Expo, strengthen cooperation to ensure trade facilitation at border gates...

In addition, the Chinese side also suggested that the two sides strengthen cooperation in the fields of trade remedies and e-commerce; exchange and sign Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening cooperation to ensure China-Vietnam supply chain; strengthen cooperation within the multilateral framework; promoting the settlement of a number of problems in bilateral trade and industrial cooperation...

On the Vietnamese side, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh made a number of proposals to further remove difficulties and restore customs clearance at border gates; facilitate rail transport between the two countries and transit from China to third countries.

On the other hand, facilitating export activities, expanding the Chinese market for Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic products; support and facilitate trade promotion activities and strengthen cooperation in market management.

Responding to the proposals of the Vietnamese side, Mr. Ly Phi said that China is coordinating with relevant Vietnamese agencies to complete the negotiation of the Protocol to open the Chinese market for Vietnamese sweet potatoes and bird's nests. and wishes to expand the import of high quality agricultural products from Vietnam.

In particular, China is ready to coordinate to ensure smoothness, avoid interruptions and improve customs clearance efficiency at border gates with Vietnam on the premise of safe epidemic prevention .