Vietnam-Yunnan expands cooperation space, promotes local connectivity: Deputy FM Le Anh Tuan
WVR - Strengthening economic and trade connectivity, border infrastructure, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges; expanding cooperation with localities deep within Vietnam are key directions being promoted during the working to Yunnan Province (China) by a delegation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Anh Tuan, from October 25-30, 2026.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Anh Tuan and the delegation work with Yunnan's Vice Governor Xu Hao, discussing potential and directions for cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, culture, and tourism. (Source: Vietnamese Consulate General in Kunming) |
From October 25-30. at the invitation of the Yunnan Provincial Administration (China),, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Anh Tuan led a delegation of leaders from foreign affairs agencies and the Departments of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of seven Vietnamese localities, including Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Vinh Long, and Can Tho, to pay a working visit to Yunnan Province.
During the visit, the delegation worked with leaders of Yunnan Province and Pu'er City; surveyed the Ma Han border gate, numerous industrial zones, green agriculture models, new rural areas, and notable cultural and tourism sites of the locality.
In the meetings, both sides highly appreciated the positive development steps of the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, affirming that cooperation between localities continues to be a highlight, contributing to deepening the relationship between the two countries. Both sides agreed to concretize and effectively implement the common perceptions, agreements, and directives of the high-level leaders of the two Parties and countries, creating substantial changes in cooperation across various fields.
A notable highlight of the visit is the direction to expand cooperation between Yunnan and localities deep within Vietnam, initially focusing on the seven localities participating in the delegation. This is seen as a new development step in local cooperation, helping to leverage complementary strengths, diversify partners, expand the connectivity network, and extend cooperation beyond provinces sharing a border.
Enhancing connectivity between localities with different geographical locations, economic conditions, and development strengths will open up new cooperation spaces, enabling businesses from both sides to seek investment and business opportunities while promoting the linkage of supply, production, and consumption chains.
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| Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan and the delegation working with Pu'er City's Vice Mayor Xu Hong Bin, discussing potential and directions for cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, culture, and tourism. (Photo: Vietnamese Consulate General in Kunming) |
Regarding border cooperation and infrastructure connectivity, both sides agreed to continue completing procedures to open the A Pa Chai (Dien Bien) - Long Phu (Pu'er) bilateral border gate; upgrade the Ma Lu Thang (Lai Chau) - Jinshuihe (Honghe) border gate pair to an international border gate; promote the construction of smart border gates, cross-border economic cooperation zones, and road works in the Thanh Thuy - Tianbao international border gate area.
These directions are expected to contribute to completing connectivity infrastructure, facilitating the flow of goods, shortening clearance times, enhancing the efficiency of import-export activities, and promoting economic development in border areas.
In the fields of economy and trade, both sides agreed to facilitate deeper access for goods, especially Vietnamese agricultural products, to the Yunnan market and the Southwest China region. Yunnan encourages Vietnamese localities and businesses to actively participate in fairs, exhibitions, and trade promotion activities in the locality, thereby promoting products, seeking partners, and expanding markets.
Besides economic, trade, and infrastructure cooperation, both sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in education, training, cadre development, and exchange of agricultural development experiences, especially in areas of strength for each side such as tea and coffee.
In the fields of culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, both sides are researching to build tourism routes connecting UNESCO-listed heritage networks; enhancing expert exchanges, cooperation in heritage conservation, and geological tourism development. These are potential fields that contribute to effectively exploiting the value of resources, culture, and landscapes while enhancing understanding and connection between the peoples of the two countries.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Anh Tuan leading the delegation of leaders from foreign affairs agencies and the Departments of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of seven Vietnamese localities to Yunnan (China) from October 25-30, 2026. (Photo: Vietnamese Consulate General in Kunming) |
Working with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Kunming, representatives from the seven localities introduced their potential, strengths, and cooperation needs with Yunnan, while requesting the Consulate General to continue playing a bridging role, supporting partner and business connections in services, tourism, green technology, clean energy, and highland specialty agriculture.
Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan requested the Vietnamese Consulate General in Kunming to closely follow the results and commitments achieved during the visit; proactively update information on large-scale fairs, exhibitions, and trade and investment promotion activities in Yunnan, creating conditions for Vietnamese localities and businesses to participate in promoting products, seeking partners, and expanding cooperation.
The visit was conducted within the cooperation mechanism between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Yunnan Provincial Administration since 2024, following the cooperation mechanism with the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region established since 2015.
Through these mechanisms, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to play a bridging, coordinating, and supporting role for localities to proactively expand foreign relations, exploit cooperation potential, and connect partners and businesses. As a result, Vietnam-China cooperation is not only strengthened at the level of border province relations but also gradually expands in depth, scope, and fields, bringing practical benefits to the localities and peoples of the two countries.
| - Currently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a similar cooperation mechanism with two localities in China: the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (implemented since 2015) and the Yunnan Provincial Administration. |
(Source: Vietnamese Consulate General in Kunming)
