Under the theme of Better City, Better Life, the exposition will centre on scientific and technological innovations and urban life in the 21^st century. The six-month long event, scheduled to open its doors on May 1, will attract participants from nearly 200 countries and 50 international organisations. Approximately 70 million visitors, including 3.5 million foreigners, are expected to visit the expo.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and his invited heads of State and Government will attend the inauguration ceremony. The Chinese Government has spent 45 billion yuan (US$6.7 billion) on expo organisation.

Vietnam has been provided with 1,000 square metres of the floor area to showcase its products and achievements to promote the image of its land, people and development potential.

The strategic comprehensive cooperation partnership between Vietnam and China has expanded in all areas in recent times. The two countries have agreed to observe 2010 as the Friendship Year to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations. Various activities have been carried out to promote mutual understanding and cooperation.

As ASEAN Chair and ASEAN-China Coordinator, Vietnam plans to organise a number of important conferences this year to boost relations between the regional bloc and China.

Both countries have signed many governmental-level agreements and other agreements, laying a firm foundation for their long-term cooperation. They have exchanged more than 100 visits at all levels each year.

Top Vietnamese and Chinese leaders have agreed to develop the two countries’ relationship under the motto of “friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability and future oriented vision” and in the spirit of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners”. 

Notably, during Party leader Nong Duc Manh’s visit to China in May 2008, both countries agreed to raise their relationship to that of a ‘comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership’.

The top leaders have confirmed that the Vietnam-China friendship is a valuable treasure which should be preserved and developed by future generations. They have vowed to do their utmost to develop the partnership in terms of depth and mutual trust, and support each other in the Renewal and Open-door policies as well as the cause of socialist construction in their respective countries.

Since 2004, China has been one of Vietnam’s leading trade partners. In 2007, two-way trade hit nearly US$16 billion, beating the US$15 billion target set for 2010. Despite the global economic turmoil, bilateral trade reached more than US$21 billion last year and nearly US$5.4 billion in the first quarter of 2010. The two countries have agreed to raise the figure to US$25 billion in 2010.

New progress has been seen in bilateral investment ties, with many major Chinese groups expressing their desire to invest in Vietnam. As of mid-March 2010, China had 681 operational projects in Vietnam capitalised at US$2.73 billion, ranking 15^th among foreign investors in the country.

The Hua Dong area, which is comprised of Shanghai city, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces with a total population of over 170 million, is one of China’s largest economic and financial hubs.

Since 1992, Shanghai city has achieved a two-digit growth rate. In 2009 alone, its GDP per capita exceeded US$11,000. All-round cooperation between Vietnam and Shanghai has flourished in recent years. The Chinese city has opened its air and sea routes to Vietnam, and its businesses have won big construction bids in the Southeast Asian nation. 

Two-way trade between Vietnam and Shanghai fetched US$1.46 billion last year, and Shanghai established the friendly ties with HCM City in 1994.

Jiangsu has established cooperative ties with 194 provinces and cities of 42 countries, including Vietnam’s Dong Nai province (in 1995). Total import-export value between Vietnam and Jiangsu was more than US$2.1 billion.

Meanwhile, Zhejiang has 134 businesses investing US$287 million in projects in Vietnam. In turn, 22 Vietnamese businesses are investing in Zhejiang with a total capitalisation of US$21.7 million. Two-way trade last year reached more than US$1.4 billion.

Source: VietNamNet/VOV