Authorities from Vietnam's Lai Chau Province and China's Yunnan Province jointly held a ceremony on November 10 to announce the upgrading of the Ma Lu Thang-Jinshuihe border-gate pair to international status.
The move is expected to promote cross-border trade, logistics services, immigration activities and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ha Trong Hai, vice-chairman of the Lai Chau People's Committee, said the upgrade had strategic importance in connecting regional transport networks and opening up new trade opportunities between northwestern Vietnam, Yunnan and other parts of southwestern China.
To maximise the potential of the upgraded border gates, Lai Chau plans to accelerate administrative reforms and digital transformation in border trade management, while reducing customs clearance times.
The province also aims to ensure that economic development goes hand in hand with national defence and security, while maintaining a peaceful and friendly border.
Following the announcement ceremony, officials from both countries witnessed the arrival of the first groups of cross-border travellers and a convoy of container trucks carrying goods through the Vietnam-China Friendship Bridge.