China and Vietnam launched a new chapter in regional collaboration as the Honghe River Basin Cooperation Week commenced on November 21, 2025, in Yunnan Province's Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture. The initiative aims to foster cross-border development along the 1,280-kilometer river that has connected communities for centuries.
Over 200 representatives from government bodies, research institutions, and enterprises across both nations gathered to discuss industrial coordination, ecological preservation, and cultural exchanges. Honghe Prefecture Governor Luo Ping emphasized the region's strategic position as a gateway for China-Vietnam cooperation, citing its shared 848-kilometer border with Vietnam's Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces.
The Honghe River (known as the Red River in Vietnam) continues to serve as an economic lifeline, supporting over 20 million residents in its basin. Vietnam's Consul General in Kunming, Hoang Minh Son, highlighted four key cooperation areas: green energy transition, digital infrastructure development, water resource management, and climate resilience strategies.
Analysts note this initiative aligns with broader ASEAN-China economic integration efforts, particularly in sustainable infrastructure projects. The cooperation week will conclude with the signing of 12 memorandums covering agricultural technology transfers, cross-border tourism routes, and joint flood prevention systems.
