Vietnam looks to tap Chinese expertise in free trade zone development

A Vietnamese government delegation led by Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung has visited China to learn from its experiences in developing financial centers and free trade zones.

During a visit to Hainan province Monday and Tuesday, the delegation discussed policies related to development of free-trade ports and other issues with China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd., under China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd., and the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development.

The delegation also toured the Haikou Integrated Free Trade Zone, part of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

Dung’s entourage consists of senior officials from Hai Phong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Danang, localities with major seaports Vietnam.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is the standing body for the Steering Committee on Development of Regional and International Financial Centers.

Last month, Minister Dung worked with Danang authorities on piloting the establishment of a free trade zone in the central coastal city that would cover both Lien Chieu port and Danang International Airport.

Liu Xiaoming, Governor of Hainan, expressed his wish to enhance trade links between the Chinese province and Vietnam, particularly with the localities of Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Earlier, on Friday, the delegation had a working session with the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone Authority to discuss the latter’s experiences in developing the city’s free trade zone.

The Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone has gone through six versions since 2013, expanding to 120 square kilometers from the original 20. Its one-stop shop has served some 600,000 businesses.

The Vietnamese delegation also visited the Global R&D Center, Jing’an CciC & iCampus by AstraZeneca in Shanghai, and attended the Shanghai Zoning Expo.