Chinese premier Li seeks to soothe Vietnam worries

The territorial dispute between China and Vietnam is being watched nowhere more closely than in a border market between the two countries, in Pingxiang, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, China. 

Here, hundreds of Chinese and Vietnamese businessmen in Nonghuai Market have been glued to news of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Vietnam, which ended yesterday.

“I hope China and Vietnam can maintain stable and good relations. As bilateral ties sour, my trade drops significantly”, said Wu Daming, referring to ongoing dispute over territory in the South China Sea. 

Wu, a 50-year-old businessman from Zhejiang province, sells knitted goods to Vietnamese customers in Pingxiang near the border, where he has traded for 21 years.

There are more than 800 Chinese wholesale stores in the market, which is 1 kilometre from the border. Most of the store owners are from Zhejiang, Guangdong and Hunan provinces. Almost every store hires one to three Vietnamese as interpreters and sales assistants.

Wu’s sales assistant, Ar Fang, is a 25-year-old Vietnamese woman from Lang Son. Fluent in Chinese, she said almost 30 per cent of young Vietnamese living along the border can speak Mandarin. “There is no problem for us to talk with each other”, she said.

Businessmen also hope the two nations can keep peace in the South China Sea as any war would mean disaster for border trade.

Dai Mingqian, a Chinese businessman from Wenzhou, Zhejiang, who sells trousers in the market, said: “My Vietnamese friends always ask me if China will beat Vietnam over the South China Sea and island disputes. They are so worried and hope the two governments can solve problems through talks and create a peaceful environment for people and their businesses.”

Dai said he often reassured his Vietnamese business partner that the Chinese government’s constant focus was on peace and common development.

“I am so happy to see Li proposed to develop the Beibu Bay jointly with Vietnam, and it is absolutely necessary for China to help Vietnam to connect the roads across the borders and build high-speed railways. It will save a lot of time for me to deliver my goods to Vietnam”, Dai said.

Lin Binguo, a 25-year-old wholesaler of lamps from Jieyang, Guangdong province, is keenly following news about the premier’s visit to Vietnam.

Lin has been doing business in Pingxiang for four years. Fluent in Vietnamese, he has no need for interpreters but employs four Vietnamese workers to help with his business.