Strengthening Vietnam – China business connectivity

VCCI Vice President Nguyen Quang Vinh met with Zhang Lin, President of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City Branch.

As part of efforts to promote economic cooperation and strengthen connectivity between the Vietnamese and Chinese business communities, Zhang Lin, President of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City Branch, held a working session with Nguyen Quang Vinh, Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), to discuss the operational situation of Chinese enterprises in Vietnam as well as future cooperation opportunities.

At the meeting, Zhang Lin shared that the branch association was established about 25 years ago and currently has around 500 members. Including associations of Chinese provinces and cities operating in Ho Chi Minh City such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shandong, the total membership of this network reaches approximately 3,000 enterprises.

In recent years, foreign direct investment (FDI) from China into Vietnam has grown significantly. Chinese enterprises investing in Vietnam have contributed to the formation and development of supply chains in various sectors, particularly electronics, construction, and infrastructure development.

Alongside the expansion in investment scale, the sectoral structure of Chinese investment in Vietnam has also shown a clear shift. In addition to traditional industries, investment flows are increasingly directed toward emerging sectors such as digital transformation, high technology, and renewable energy.

This trend is considered consistent with Vietnam’s current economic development orientation. Zhang also shared survey results from Chinese enterprises investing and operating in Vietnam. According to the survey, more than 75% of participating enterprises believe that the investment environment in Vietnam is highly favorable for business operations.

This is regarded as an important factor helping Vietnam continue to attract foreign investors, including Chinese enterprises. However, according to Zhang, the Chinese business community has also raised several issues that should be addressed to further improve the investment environment.

One issue mentioned is the relatively long processing time for certain licensing procedures, which can affect the implementation progress of business projects. In addition, Zhang noted that according to feedback from enterprises, some policies and regulations change relatively quickly, sometimes making it challenging for businesses to update and comply with new requirements in a timely manner.

Human resource quality is another concern for Chinese enterprises. Zhang pointed out that while Vietnam’s workforce has strong potential, there remain limitations in professional expertise in some sectors, particularly those requiring advanced technical and technological skills.

Based on practical business operations, Zhang Lin also suggested that through VCCI’s connecting role, the Chinese business community could further strengthen cooperation with Vietnamese localities as well as ministries and government agencies in the coming period.

He noted that promoting these channels of exchange and cooperation is expected to create more favorable conditions for the investment and business activities of enterprises from both sides.

VCCI Vice President Nguyen Quang Vinh took a commemorative photo with President Zhang Lin and members of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City Branch.

Responding at the meeting, VCCI Vice President Nguyen Quang Vinh welcomed the cooperation and contributions of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Vietnam in general, as well as its Ho Chi Minh City branch in particular over the years.

The VCCI Vice President noted that Vietnam is currently prioritizing investment attraction in areas such as innovation, digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, and the development of green and sustainable industrial parks. These sectors are expected to create new momentum for economic growth in the coming years. He also expressed hope that Chinese enterprises, with their experience and technological strengths, would participate more actively in these fields in Vietnam.

Appreciating the feedback and recommendations from the Chinese business community operating in Vietnam, the VCCI Vice President affirmed that VCCI will continue to collect and convey the opinions of both domestic and foreign enterprises to the Government and relevant ministries and agencies.

At the same time, both sides should strengthen the organization of seminars and forums to listen to the concerns and aspirations of the business communities of the two countries, thereby further promoting investment and trade activities in the time ahead.