Chen Jieying, a deputy to the National People's Congress and vice chairperson of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. [Photo/China News Service]

Chen Jieying, a deputy to the National People's Congress and vice chairperson of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, recently put forward that China and Vietnam shall negotiate a new Sino-Vietnamese cooperation agreement for the fisheries in the Beibu Gulf.

Chen explained that the Beibu Gulf is one of China's four major fishing grounds. In 2000, China and Vietnam signed the Beibu Gulf Fisheries Cooperation Agreement, which became the first agreement signed by both parties after demarcating the maritime boundary. The agreement played an essential role in promoting fisheries cooperation, but it expired in 2019.

"If a new version of the Sino-Vietnamese Beibu Gulf Fisheries Cooperation Agreement can be signed, it will be beneficial for Guangxi's fisheries to achieve transformation and upgrading and will play an important role in promoting external exchanges and cooperation in the fishing industry for the benefit of the regional population," Chen said.

Guangxi is a key hometown for overseas Chinese and an essential gateway for jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, with extensive connections to the ASEAN countries.