The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) will provide fund to promote the construction of two China-Vietnam cross-border economic cooperation zones, a Chinese official said on Tuesday.

UNDP representatives and officials of the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CIETE) have held a work meeting during the 4th China-ASEAN Expo going on in the southern China city of Nanning.

Zhao Yongli, assistant to the head of CIETE, said the UNDP has a plan to fund the construction of the two cross-border zones. He did not disclose how much money will be provided and when the money is in place.

One of the zones will be built across Pingxiang of Guangxi, south China, and Langson Province of Vietnam, and the other across Honghe of Yunnan, southwest China, and Lao Cai, Vietnam.

Renaud Meyer, the UNDP's deputy representative to China, said at the work meeting that it is of great influence to establish China-Vietnam cross-border economic cooperation zones. The project will not only promote local economic development, but also help achieve the goal to reduce poverty in the region.

Meyer hoped entrepreneurs from the two countries would participate in the project.

Nguyen Tan Dung, prime minister of Vietnam, said earlier this year that he was very pleased and would support the establishment of the cross-border economic zones.

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2007)