Vietnam foreign minister calls for full flight resumption with China

Receiving Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nong Rong in Hanoi on Friday, Son suggested that the two countries improve the quality and efficiency of cooperation, develop trade in a balanced and sustainable manner, expand investment cooperation while settling obstacles in key projects, promote transport connectivity, and resume all flights between the two to facilitate people's travel and goods transport, according to a foreign ministry's statement.

As China recently announced to resume group tours to Vietnam from March 15, Son said the two countries should create favorable conditions of each other's tourists to develop the huge potentials of tourism cooperation.

He also said Vietnam consistently attaches importance to consolidating and developing its comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, considering this a top priority in the country's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, and diversification and multilateralization of external relations.

Nong affirmed that China treasures its relations with Vietnam and is willing to work with Vietnam to increase exchanges, consolidate political trust, and constantly enhance the partnership between the two countries.

He proposed Vietnam continue to create a fair and favorable environment for Chinese businesses.

China is a large trading partner with Vietnam. Last year, bilateral trade reached nearly $178 billion.

Vietnam’s exports to China rose 8% to $119.3 billion in 2022, compared to a year earlier; imports climbed 4.5% to $58.4 billion.