Expanding infrastructure connectivity and value chain
On the morning of August 24, in Sa Pa, the 12th Economic Corridor Cooperation Conference between 5 localities Lao Cai, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and Yunnan (China) officially opened.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lao Cai Provincial Party Secretary Duong Quoc Huy said that Lao Cai is located at the gateway to trade, connecting Vietnam, ASEAN with Yunnan and the Southwest China region. At the same time, Lao Cai is the center of the Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh economic corridor.
Lao Cai has many advantages in border gate economy, industry, commodity agriculture and tourism. Along with that, the transportation and socio-economic infrastructure system is gradually being synchronously invested, creating great room for development and investment attraction.
According to the Secretary of the Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee, after 22 years of formation, the cooperation mechanism between the 5 localities has increasingly affirmed its sustainability and practical effectiveness.
In which, the period 2024 - 2026 recorded a shift from connecting relations to connecting development. Localities are gradually promoting the connection of transport infrastructure, border gates, logistics, data; connecting production with the market, border gates with seaports; strengthening links between governments, businesses and people on both sides of the border.
From the practical cooperation, Lao Cai leaders believe that overall linkage is still limited, many activities are scattered, and large-scale and widespread cooperation programs have not been formed.
The economic efficiency of the corridor has not been clearly quantified, while science, technology, innovation, digital transformation and green transformation have not really become the focus.
Therefore, Lao Cai proposes 3 major orientations, including completing the economic corridor with a smooth and modern connected transportation system; forming competitive value chains in the region.
From there, create new development momentum based on science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and high-quality human resources.
Promoting cross-border economic corridors
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Do Nam Trung - Director of the Northeast Asia Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs - assessed that the Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh economic corridor plays an important role in strengthening connectivity between the two countries.
According to Mr. Trung, the development of this corridor is meaningful in implementing high-level common perceptions, strengthening connectivity and mutual support for joint development, bringing practical benefits to people in localities along the route.
Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed that localities of the two sides focus on implementing 3 pioneering contents. In which, strongly shift from pure trade to deep strategic connection between the two economies; solve bottlenecks in infrastructure and logistics; and at the same time promote humane exchange and cooperation in education, health, and tourism.
Localities are also proposed to promote road and railway connectivity, including the standard railway line Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong; build border gate infrastructure, cooperate in developing smart border gates and facilitate customs clearance of goods.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also requested localities to increase high-quality investment, develop high-tech projects, supporting industries, and high-tech agriculture.
Localities promote tourism cooperation and coordinate the management and protection of land borders.
These orientations are expected to contribute to making Yunnan and Lao Cai become trade connection centers between China and ASEAN, thereby improving the effectiveness of economic and trade cooperation between localities along the corridor.
