Reuters, HANOI

Vietnam and China signed 10 agreements ranging from agriculture cooperation to cross-border QR code payments yesterday, during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s (李強) three-day visit to Hanoi, as the two neighbors seek to boost ties.

China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner and a vital source of imports for its manufacturing sector, with bilateral trade jumping 21 percent for the first three quarters from the same period last year to US$148 billion.

The signing ceremony followed Li’s meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Li and Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary and Vietnamese President To Lam, agreed on Saturday to boost economic ties and farm produce cooperation.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, left, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh wave as they pose for a photo during a meeting at the Vietnamese Government Office in Hanoi yesterday.

Photo: AFP

Chinh asked China to boost agricultural trade with Vietnam, open doors to Vietnamese farm produce and enhance customs clearance at borders, Vietnemese state broadcaster Vietnam Television (VTV) reported.

Vietnam and China also signed a document on updating progress on cross-border railway links related to site survey.

“The Vietnamese prime minister also suggested the two countries cooperate to implement signed documents on railway links, modern railway development effectively,” VTV reported.

The two neighbors have repeatedly showed interest in boosting rail links but have not announced concrete plans or the estimated costs to upgrade connections.