On June 16, the "Go Guangdong, Go Global" Salon – Vietnam, a salon focused on strengthening economic ties between China's Guangdong Province and Vietnam, was held in Guangzhou. The event was jointly organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province (the Guangdong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries) and the Consulate General of Vietnam in Guangzhou.
Government officials, business leaders, and industry experts joined the salon to explore new opportunities for industrial and supply chain coordination, as well as infrastructure connectivity, under the APEC framework.
In 2025, Guangdong-Vietnam trade volume totaled $63.1 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 12.3% and accounting for 21.3% of the total bilateral trade between China and Vietnam. China-Vietnam bilateral trade surpassed $290 billion in 2025, a historic milestone.
Vietnam is Guangdong's largest trading partner among ASEAN members, while Guangdong ranks as Vietnam's top provincial-level trading partner in China.
Addressing the salon, Ma Wenfeng, Director General of Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, said selecting Vietnam as the inaugural guest country for the 'Go Guangdong, Go Global' serial salons was "a practical step toward implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, a firm commitment to deepening engagement with ASEAN countries, and a joint effort to advance mutually beneficial cooperation."
Ma Wenfeng emphasized that Guangdong, as China's major manufacturing province, possesses a robust modern industrial system supported by complete industrial chains, well-developed supporting facilities, and vibrant innovation.
He noted that Guangdong's technological strengths and well-established industries in rail transit, electronics and information technology, artificial intelligence, and green infrastructure closely align with Vietnam's current development priorities in industrialization, urbanization, internationalization, and green transformation.
Nguyen Viet Dung, Consul General of Vietnam in Guangzhou, highlighted the significant achievements of Vietnam-Guangdong cooperation in recent years. He noted that Vietnam's dynamic and highly open economy complements Guangdong's strengths in technology, capital, management, and market access, laying a solid foundation for mutual development.
According to the Consul General, Guangdong enterprises rank among the top Chinese provincial investors in Vietnam. Cooperation between businesses from both sides has expanded beyond traditional trade to include supporting industries, infrastructure development, logistics, technology, materials production, modern services, and other high-value-added sectors.
Nguyen Viet Dung reaffirmed the Vietnamese government's commitment to providing a "transparent, stable, and convenient investment environment," ensuring political and social stability, and safeguarding investors' legitimate rights and interests.
He also pledged his government will continue advancing administrative reforms and improving infrastructure quality and logistics capacity to support long-term business operations.
In Vietnam's new development phase, Nguyen Viet Dung said Vietnam seeks to attract investment from enterprises with high quality, advanced technology, modern management, and environmental friendliness—areas where Guangdong companies have distinctive strengths.
Chen Xiaofeng, President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Guangdong Committee, announced that the organization will focus on strengthening cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative by supporting Guangdong-Vietnam collaboration in port shipping, cross-border railways, and international logistics hubs, while advancing digital and smart infrastructure development.
Chen also pledged to promote precise alignment between Guangdong's competitive industries—including electronics and information technology, new energy vehicles, smart home appliances, and the digital economy—and Vietnam's industrial development needs.
He expressed support for Guangdong enterprises in establishing production bases, logistics centers, and marketing networks in Vietnam, as well as expanding their investment and operations in the country.
The salon was held as China prepares to host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen later this year, with Vietnam as the host of the Meeting in 2027.
Reporter | Guo Chuhua
Photo | Guo Chuhua
