China and Vietnam are seeing their bilateral trade grow significantly as borders cities in the two countries keep strengthening cooperation facilitating the flows of goods and personnel.
In the first seven months this year, the bilateral trade between the two countries reached 145 billion U.S. dollars, marking a significant year-over-year growth of over 20 percent.
The trade between border cities has been a crucial driver in promoting the economic and trade ties between China and Vietnam.
With nine land ports bordering Vietnam, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China has been a leader in promoting bilateral trade.
With valid certificates, residents living in Dongxing and the neighboring Mong Cai in Vietnam can walk freely into each other's countries through a 120-meter bridge and return home before nightfall. The facilitated personnel exchange helps boost the trade in the border cities.
"I come to Dongxing every day," said a Vietnamese fruit vendor.
"When sales are at their peak, about 500 kilograms can be sold every day were sold," said another Vietnamese fruit vendor selling durian.
The commercial streets in Dongxing are a prime example of the close trade ties between Guangxi and Vietnam, where consumers are able to pick their favorites from a wide assortment of snacks, condiments, and handicrafts made in the Southeast Asian country.
"I bought them for my relatives and friends," said a consumer.
As a well-known brand of Vietnam, the country's coffee industry has a noticeable presence in Dongxing.
Tourists often take a break at local coffee shops and taste a cup from Vietnam. "My coffee shop used to cover just dozens of square meters. Now it is as extensive as over 2,000 square meters. The shop is packed with consumers every day. Each time we enlarged the shop, we found it was not big enough later, so, we enlarge the shop every year," said a Vietnamese-style coffee shop owner in Dongxing.
The trade ties between Dongxing and Mong Cai has been strengthening over the recent years. The two cities will pilot the China-Vietnam cross-border economic cooperation zone to further facilitate the flow of goods and services and drive exchanges in trade, tourism, as well as culture, according to local authorities in Dongxing.
China, Vietnam see trade grow as border cities strengthening exchanges
Macao has been emerging as a global hub for conventions and exhibitions in recent years by exploring the enormous opportunities in the sector, driving the region to advance its economic diversification and embrace a brighter future.
Macao has received many awards this year, such as the Best Convention City (Asia) and the Best BT-MICE City, showcasing the recognition for and influence of Macao's exhibition industry.
More than 1,000 electronic game enthusiasts from all over the world gathered recently in Macao to participate in a esports themed event.
Su Zhili, organizer of the event, said that Macao's rich experience in hosting large-scale events, coupled with its good infrastructure, has driven him to choose the region as an ideal destination to hold such an activity.
"Macao has held many similar large-scale events. It has rich experience, and the facilities at the venue are relatively mature, so we can start our work comfortably," said Su.
During the first three quarters of 2024, Macao held more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions in total.
"We will invite more professional, special conferences to be held in Macao and also cultivate more exhibition brands with international influence in Macao, so as to promote Macao's exhibitions to be more market-oriented, professional, international, digital and greener from various aspects. This is our goal," said Elaine Wong, member of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.
In addition, multiple large exhibitions and conferences, such as the Macao International Trade and Investment fair, the Macao Franchise Expo, and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, are held regularly in Macao.
With the introduction of a series of policies and measures to facilitate the exchanges between the mainland and Macao, as well as the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao's convention and exhibition industry will embrace more opportunities for development in the foreseeable future.
"We have such a good industrial base in the Greater Bay Area. The mode of 'Convention and Exhibition + Industry' not only integrates the industries of Macao, but also the industries of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, Macao actively integrates into the national development and plays a role in the Belt and Road. Why are we so confident in Macao's convention and exhibition sector? Because it is backed by the motherland, and the country gives Macao great support," said Alan Ho, chairman of the Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Sectors.
Macao emerges as global hub for conventions and exhibitions, driving economic diversification and international recognition
