The China-Vietnam Detian (B?n Gi?c) Waterfalls Cross-Border Tourism Cooperation Zone, the first Cross-Border Tourism Cooperation Zone in China, officially commenced operations with a grand opening ceremony on October 15, 2024. The event follows the historic visit of H.E. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, to Vietnam from October 12–14, during which both countries issued a Joint Statement announcing the Cooperation Zone's official launch. The opening ceremony was co-hosted by the People's Government of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the Cao Bang People's Committee of Vietnam. Attendees included Mr. Hu Fan, Vice Chairman of the People's Government of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr. Hoàng Xuan ánh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee (PPC), and Director of the Cao Bang Coordination Committee, as well as representatives from Chinese and Vietnamese government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Administration of Customs and National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The launch of the Cooperation Zone introduces a series of new measures aimed at enhancing the cross-border tourism experience: 1. Increased Visitor Capacity: The daily visitor limit for cross-border travel has been doubled, from 500 to 1,000 on each side, with capacity adjusted based on demand.2. Extended Operating Hours: Opening hours have been extended from 10:00–17:00 to 09:00–18:00 (Beijing Time). Tour groups can now spend up to six hours on the other side, an increase from the previous five-hour limit. 3. Streamlined Cross-Border Procedures: The Cooperation Zone introduces the nation's first "facial recognition processing" system. Visitors can easily make reservations through the "Gui Jing Tong Ban" (Guangxi Police universal platform) mini-program for automatic verification and processing. Immigration, household registration, and traffic management services are now integrated into a single service window. Passport holders can join tour groups organized by the zone's operators without additional documentation. 4. Simplified Item Declaration: The process for declaring commonly carried items, such as cameras and camcorders, has been simplified. Advanced technology ensures smooth inspection of visitors and their belongings, providing a seamless cross-border experience.

The launch of the Cooperation Zone marks a major milestone in cross-border tourism between China and Vietnam and sets a model for deeper collaboration among ASEAN countries. It underscores China's commitment to the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting high-level openness to drive sustainable development. This initiative is expected to strengthen the China-Vietnam partnership, foster closer cooperation, and contribute to building a shared future between the two nations.