(VOVworld)-Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Friday attended the opening ceremony of the 9th ASEAN-China Expo and China-ASEAN Business-Investment Summit in Nanning, China. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, President  Thein Sein of Myanmar, Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, and leaders of several ASEAN nations participated at the ceremony. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping praised the importance of the event as a meeting point of business counterparts from China and the ASEAN. This will facilitate the formation of the ASEAN China Free Trade Area and their strategic partnership while strengthening mutual understanding in the region. Vice President Xi reiterated China’s unswerving policy of continuously expanding friendship cooperative relations with the ASEAN and resolving differences through peaceful negotiation and mutual respect, including maritime issues. He said that China welcomed and pledged favorable conditions for ASEAN businesses to invest in the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of  the 9th ASEAN-China Expo, Myanmar President Thein Sein spoke on behalf of ASEAN leaders and praised ASEAN – China’s cooperation as a solid foundation for mutual interest. He said that ASEAN and China are vast market with unique growth potential in terms of human and natural resources and called for further efforts to nurture cooperation, peace and development.

On Friday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited the Wall of Friendship with hand imprints of Chinese and Vietnamese youth before returning to Vietnam.