Vietnam Eyes More Chinese Tourists

Vietnams Ho Chi Minh City has set a target of receiving 1.5 million Chinese visitors by 2020 after welcoming 540，000 in 2017， the municipal Department of Tourism said on May 9.

To this end， Ho Chi Minh City will establish more tourist attractions in District 5， further develop waterway-based tours， better manage shops， especially those selling raw or processed salangane nests or rubber mattresses， and promote the city as a destination in various local Chinese markets.

Vietnam welcomed nearly 1.8 million Chinese visitors in the first four months of this year， accounting for 32 percent of its total international arrivals and posting a year-on-year rise of 39.7 percent， said the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

Last year， Vietnam hosted over 4 million Chinese visitors， up 48.6 percent over 2016.

Enhancing New Media Cooperation

China is willing to strengthen exchange and cooperation in new media with ASEAN countries， announced Guo Weimin， vice minister of the State Council Information Office of China， at the opening ceremony of the 14th Conference of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information （AMRI） in Singapore on May 10.

Guo opined that the theme of the 14th AMRI， “Inclusive and Informed Digital ASEAN，” was apt， given recent rapid technological advancements.

He said that the media have functioned as a bridge in promoting exchange between different countries and peoples.

With the swift development of new media and new technologies， the Chinese government and media have attached great importance to merging traditional news organizations with new ones. In the meantime， the Chinese government has boosted the introduction of relevant laws and regulations to fight fake news and illegal websites.

Guo said that China is willing to share technologies and experiences with ASEAN countries in new media practice and explore ways to conduct fruitful exchange and cooperation in areas like news websites， news apps and social media.

China-Myanmar

Trade Fair in Yangon

The China-Myanmar trade fair-2018 kicked off in Myanmars commercial hub of Yangon on May 17.

It is the first of its kind organized by China-ASEAN Expo （CAEXPO） Secretariat， Trade Development Bureau （TDB） of Chinas Ministry of Commerce， Worldex-SingEx Exhibitions （Guangzhou） Co.， Ltd. and Myanmar Trade Promotion Organization.

Than Myint， union minister of the Commerce Ministry， said that the trade fair could promote trade and economic cooperation between Myanmar and China.

The trade fair will be a platform to introduce good-quality products from China to Myanmar market， he added.

Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang predicted that the trade fair would enhance bilateral cooperation in building modern economic corridor because the fair is part of the China-ASEAN Expo.

Building materials， hardware lighting products， food， farming machinery and household utensils were on display in 200 booths from 103 companies at Yangons Myanmar Event Park. The fair concluded on May 19.

Sea-Rail Route Links Kunming， Singapore

A regular sea-and-rail transit route linking Kunming， capital of southwest Chinas Yunnan Province， and Singapore started operation on May 18.

A freight train loaded with fertilizer and coffee beans left Kunming for Qinzhou port in neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region， where the cargo will depart by ship to Singapore. The total travel time will be slashed to about seven days from the previous 15， saving several hundred yuan per container of goods.

Meanwhile， a freight train carrying corn， sorghum， soybeans and stone left Qinzhou port for Kunming， launching a two-way freight train route with greatly increased transport capacity and lower costs that will promote cross-border logistics and trade， according to the citys rail authority.