Lang Son: Key Clue of Vietnam-China Trade

Lang Son: Key Clue of Vietnam-China Trade

Lang Son province holds a key position in the economic triangle of Hanoi-Haiphong-Quang Ninh and also is the trans-national market between Vietnam, ASEAN and China. It is a northern border province in Vietnam, with several key roads such as National Road No’s. 1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 31 and 279. Moreover, there is also a China–Vietnam railway, 253 km of common border with China, 2 international border gates and 7 border markets.

According to Mr. Doan Ba Nhien, Chairman of Lang Son’s People Committee, Lang Son’s economy is in a rapid growth phase. The average annual growth of the province in the 1996-2000 period was 9.25 per cent, 9.9 per cent in the 2001-2003 period, and 8.28 per cent in the first 6 months of 2004, higher then the growth of the same period in 2003.

The economic structure is making a positive shift, in which commerce, tourism and services become key economic sectors to help other sectors develop.

During recent years especially, relations between China and Vietnam have developed continuously. As a result, Lang Son of Vietnam and Quangxi of China both have important roles in terms of commerce. Vietnamese goods like agro-forestry products, seafood and foodstuffs have been exported to China, while Chinese products of machinery, equipment and material and consumption goods have been exported to Vietnam.

Furthermore, businesses in temporary import for re-export, transferring goods through border gates within relevant countries, have been well developed.

In the six year period from 1998-2003, total import-export turnover through Lang Son’s border gates was valued at US$2,350 billion, increasing at an annual average rate of 28 per cent. This amount accounts for over half of the total amount of import-export goods through all border gates in the north. Import-export taxes reached VND1,917 billion.

Every year, Lang Son receives over 500,000 tourists, in which there are over 70,000 international tourists.

Pursuant to the Decision of Government on border gate economy, business at each border gate has shown positive progress. Such businesses as commerce, service and cooperative investment have been highly supported and infrastructure has been improved. In the last five years in Lang Son, there has been an investment of about VND1,650 billion in more than 30 domestic investment projects.

Many foreign investors have also come to Lang Son to study the investment environment. Some international projects have been successful such as the Star Joint Venture Compact Disc Company and Tan Thanh entertainment zone, and the Hoang Dong entertainment zone with capital of USD38 million is also being deployed. At present in Lang Son, there are 25 FDI projects with total capital of over US$80 million.

Mr. Nhien also discussed the development direction of relations between the two provinces of Lang Son and Quang Tay. The two sides will improve their role as an economic transaction bridge between ASEAN countries and China within the framework of the agreement on ASEAN-China free trade area. For this, according to Mr.Nhien, Lang Son should be well organised in terms of its information service about commerce, services and markets.

Initially, the project to build a database named "Lang Son–Quang Tay, opportunities for business and investment" will be implemented to supply information about commerce, services and markets of Quangxi and Vietnam for domestic and overseas businesspeople.

Furthermore, long term development guidelines and directions will also be planned. The border gate infrastructure will be focused on building a storing system and loading area; means of loading, transporting and logistic services; forwarding, payment, quarantine and quality control will be equipped in order to meet international commercial customs standards. On the other hand, domestic and international investors will be appealed to for key projects in important fields such as banking, post and telecommunications or import-export services.

• Lan Anh