The 2019 Vietnam-China (Mong Cai-Dongxing) International Trade and Tourism Expo opens in Mong Cai, Vietnam on Dec 1. [Photo by Zhai Liqiang/chinanews.com]

The 2019 Vietnam-China (Mong Cai-Dongxing) International Trade and Tourism Expo opened in Mong Cai, Vietnam on Dec 1, aiming to strengthen and expand economic and trade cooperation between border areas of China and Vietnam.

The expo will run until Dec 7, carrying out activities like the exhibition of socio-economic achievements of China and Vietnam, the matchmaking of agro-forestry and aquatic products, as well as tourism promotion, investment promotion, and cultural and sports projects promotion.

Dongxing in Fangchenggang, Guangxi and Mang Cai in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam are the two closest port cities on the border of China and Vietnam. The two cities have strengthened exchanges and cooperation in the fields of trade, tourism, culture, education, and health. The expo has become an important platform between the two countries for exploring business opportunities and creating regional prosperity since the two sides agreed to take turns to hold the expo in Dongxing and Mang Cai in 2006.

Vu Van Kinh, chairman of the People's Committee of Mong Cai, said that the expo will build bridges for companies from both sides to explore cooperation. In addition, it will further enrich the characteristic cultural structure of the border areas of the two sides, deepen the good-neighborliness and friendly relations of the people in the border areas, as well as promote common prosperity through a set of cultural and sports activities.

A group of Chinese and Vietnamese companies signed cooperation memorandums on imports and exports, border trade settlement, as well as investment in agricultural, forestry, and aquatic product processing at the matchmaking meeting of the expo.