Vietnam Seeks Deeper Supply Chain Cooperation with China to Boost Trade

Vietnam is seeking to deepen its supply chain cooperation with China to further expand bilateral trade, a move that comes amid significant growth in their economic ties. In 2026, China-Vietnam trade reached 305.6 billion CNY, a year-on-year increase of 28.3%, accounting for 83.9% of the total trade turnover through border gates. However, experts caution that China is no longer an "easy market" as it shifts towards high-quality and high-standard products, with growing attention to food safety, origin, and quality. Vietnam must adapt to these market changes. The implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and ongoing efforts to upgrade the China – ASEAN Free Trade Area are expected to support the expansion of fruit trade. To accelerate economic growth and enhance international competitiveness, Vietnam is promoting policies that emphasize digitalization and sustainability. For instance, the capital city Hanoi aims to have 500 businesses and organizations participating in or connected to a digitalization scheme by 2028, with plans to offer 1,000 products on dedicated digital storefronts or linked online platforms. Bac Ninh province has set a goal for all state-owned enterprises to adopt modern, digital corporate governance by 2030. Furthermore, Vietnam is focusing on the development of its marine economy, viewing shipbuilding as an integral part of an industrial ecosystem linked with metallurgy, mechanical engineering, IT, and other related sectors. A transparent and stable legal environment with attractive incentives is expected to attract a new wave of investment, turning the marine economy into a driver of double-digit growth. International cooperation is also advancing. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang has called on Swiss financial and technology firms to strengthen cooperation through expert exchanges, policy advice on crypto asset market regulation, and support for digital asset market infrastructure development. As an active member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Vietnam is contributing to international agendas, including ratifying the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and negotiating entry into the expanded Information Technology Agreement (ITA2). The story of Vietnam's economy in 2026 is not just about faster GDP growth, but also about higher productivity, industrial upgrading, stronger capital formation, and a more prominent role in Asia’s strategic economic landscape.