Zhanjiang City is located in the southernmost part of mainland China, with a geographical advantage. Zhanjiang is located at the intersection of three major economic circles of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Hainan Free Trade Port and the Beibu Gulf Belt Economic Circle; it is a second-tier central city in Guangdong Province. Zhanjiang is the bridgehead for Guangdong to connect with ASEAN countries.
Zhanjiang has a solid industrial foundation. Industrial chains such as Baosteel Zhanjiang Steel, Zhongke Refining and Chemicals, BASF and Chenming Paper are accelerating their completion; industries such as: Green steel, green petrochemicals, green energy, green papermaking, smart home appliances, aquatic products processing, etc.
Zhanjiang's science and education sector is strong, with 7 colleges and universities, 492 scientific research institutions and more than 220,000 scientific researchers; Transportation is improving day by day and is a national comprehensive transportation hub; The high-speed train and highway network is accelerating improvement and has the 4E-class Wuchuan International Airport in Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang Port is a world-class deep-water port...
Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Duc Tho works with the delegation of Deputy Mayors of Zhanjiang City (Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs)
Zhanjiang has increasingly frequent cultural and trade exchanges with Vietnam and other ASEAN countries. Vietnam is an important trade partner of Zhanjiang, trade cooperation between the two sides is progressing steadily, including major industries such as aquatic products, cardboard, steel, iron ore, etc. Zhanjiang currently has 8 companies investing in Vietnam.
Hai Phong City and Zhanjiang City have many similarities, some industries such as Industry, seaports... are strongly complementary to each other. Recently, exchanges and cooperation between the two cities have been initially implemented in a number of areas such as industrial park cooperation, delegation exchanges, seaport connections and shipping routes.
Delegation from Zhanjiang City inspects DEEPC Industrial Park (Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs)
One is industrial park cooperation. In July 2023, Guangdong Phan Dung ASEAN Industrial Park in Zhanjiang City signed a cooperation framework agreement with the China-Vietnam (Shenzhen-Hai Phong) Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Hai Phong City to carry out international cooperation on industrial parks. In November 2023, Deputy Mayor of Zhanjiang City Ha Gia Man led a delegation to visit Vietnam and conduct a field survey at the China-Vietnam (Shenzhen-Hai Phong) Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone to promote increasingly deep cooperation between the two industrial parks. In May 2024, Deputy Secretary General of the Zhanjiang Municipal Government Yuan Huaxin led a delegation to visit Vietnam and to the China-Vietnam Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (Shenzhen-Haiphong) to discuss issues on coordinating the development of the Industrial Park of the two localities.
Second, on delegation exchanges. With the desire to enhance exchanges and delegation exchanges at all levels, the Deputy Mayor of Zhanjiang City visited Hai Phong in November 2023 and had a working program with Mr. Nguyen Duc Tho, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee and representatives of the leaders of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Planning and Investment, Department of Industry and Trade and Hai Phong Economic Zone Management Board, to discuss the development of Hai Phong Industrial Park, preferential policies and processing needs of local manufacturing enterprises for Zhanjiang industrial enterprises, and discuss industrial park cooperation, port cooperation and promote friendly exchanges.
Zhanjiang City is also promoting the organization of a government delegation led by the Mayor to visit and work in Hai Phong in late 2024 or 2025 to promote the establishment of a closer and closer relationship with Hai Phong City through the signing of a cooperation framework in potential areas and strengths of both sides, thereby further enhancing exchanges between the two localities, deepening economic and trade cooperation and developing together.
Zhanjiang's desire to connect and implement cooperation with Hai Phong was also expressed by the Vietnamese Consulate General in Guangzhou during meetings and working sessions with Zhanjiang City leaders.
Zhanjiang City delegation surveyed Tan Vu Port (Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs)
Third, about connecting seaports and shipping routes. Shipping lines such as Evergreen, Wanhai, CMA CGM, Yunda and other shipping lines operated by Zhanjiang Port all have calls at Hai Phong Port. Also during the visit to Hai Phong by the delegation led by the Deputy Mayor of Tram Giang City in November 2023, the delegation visited and surveyed the Tan Vu Port of Hai Phong Port Joint Stock Company. The two sides discussed the contents of port construction, connecting sea transport routes, etc.In December 2023, Zhanjiang Wushi Port opened a cargo transport route and according to the plan, after the completion of construction, Wushi Port will continue to open the "Guangdong - ASEAN" logistics transport route for industrial products, agricultural products and seafood, promoting economic and trade exchanges between Zhanjiang City and Hai Phong City.
It can be seen that Hai Phong and Zhanjiang have a lot of potential and space for cooperation. Hai Phong is one of the largest seaports in Vietnam, with a strategic location favorable for international trade. Moreover, with hundreds of years of development history, Hai Phong has advantages in industrial development, the two sides can cooperate in areas such as processing industry, manufacturing, seaports, logistics. Cooperation in the fields of tourism and culture is also meaningful in helping the two cities build a closer relationship. At the same time, the two sides can build bilateral cooperation programs, increase delegation exchanges at all levels, thereby creating a favorable foundation to promote cooperation activities in various fields... in addition to the cooperation fields that have been implemented by both sides, towards establishing a stronger relationship between the two localities. Promoting cooperation programs will help Hai Phong and Tram Giang take advantage of their own advantages, thereby creating momentum for sustainable development in the future./.