Assoc.Prof. Dr. Duong Van Huy, Director of the Center for Vietnam-China Relations Studies, the Institute for Asian and Asia-Pacific Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences
Question: Under the backdrop of U.S. tariff increases, what suggestions do you have for further strengthening economic and trade cooperation between China and Vietnam?
Dr. Duong Van Huy: Under the uncertain world situation, particularly the United States' tariff growth on other countries, which is disrupting global economic activity, the economic and trade relations between Vietnam and China can be developed in a more strategic way. For example, if the two countries can consider going to negotiate a Vietnam-China Free Trade Area (VCFTA), trade between them can become more institutionalized. Simultaneously, the two countries can actively promote collaboration in bilateral high-tech investment projects such as the Vietnam-China High-Tech Park. At the same time, cooperation in infrastructure connections is improving. This will speed up the two countries' economic integration.
Question: China is a core market for Vietnamese agricultural products such as durians and dragon fruits. What are your recommendations for strengthening import collaboration on agricultural products between the two sides?
Dr. Duong Van Huy: Vietnam is an agricultural country in Southeast Asia, and agricultural export items account for a significant portion of Vietnam's exports. China is a major market for Vietnam's agricultural products, such as durian and dragon fruit.
In recent years, Vietnam's agricultural products have seen an increase in exports to China. I think that Vietnam should proactively work with China to promote deeper cooperation with China in this field so that Vietnamese agricultural products can enter the Chinese market more. In particular, Guangdong is a potential market and an important cooperation partner for the production and export of agricultural products of Vietnam. In terms of geographical distance, Guangdong is relatively close, and the traffic to Vietnam is relatively convenient. The exchange of people between Guangdong and Vietnam is also very bustling. Guangdong has many advantages in the market for consuming Vietnamese goods as well as advantages in experience and technology for the production and processing of agricultural products. Therefore, I think that Vietnam can cooperate with Guangdong province in the field of production and export of agricultural products from Vietnam to China.
Question: What are your suggestions for promoting cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Vietnam?
Dr. Duong Van Huy: Obviously, cultural exchange activities between Vietnam and China have been strongly promoted in recent years, including musical and cinematic exchanges. Since the 1990s, Chinese music and cinema have been extremely popular in Vietnam. Chinese social network platforms such as TikTok are currently immensely popular among Vietnamese people. This highlights the significance of cultural exchange in the two countries' whole bilateral relationship. As a result, promoting cultural interchange between the two countries in the future should be seen as a significant channel for strengthening the two countries' bilateral ties.
