VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received Chinese deputy foreign minister Zhang Zhijun, who headed a Chinese governmental delegation on border negotiations, in Ha Noi yesterday, April 19.

PM Dung receives Chinese Deputy FM Zhang Zhijun. (Photo: VNA)

He affirmed that Viet Nam was pleased to see that bilateral co-operation has become more effective, particularly in politics, diplomacy, culture and education and training.

In 2010, the two countries successfully organised the Viet Nam-China Friendship Year and the 60th anniversary of the two countries' bilateral diplomatic ties, both of which had positive impacts on relations.

Two-way trade saw huge growth, Dung said, urging both countries to implement the signed one-belt and two-economic-corridor programmes. He also pushed for an early conclusion of negotiations by signing a five-year co-operation plan.

Regarding the border and territory issues, Dung approved of agreements reached during the talks, and urged the countries to carry them out.

On land border issues, both sides needed a common voice and joint efforts for the early signing of an agreement to facilitate the free travel of ships at the mouth of Bac Luan River and deal with the co-operation and exploitation of tourism potential in the Ban Gioc waterfall area.

Regarding the East Sea, based on the spirit of both comradeship and brotherhood, Dung proposed the two sides talk and seek fundamental and long-lasting solutions acceptable to both sides.

Agreeing with Dung's views, Zhang said the issue needed to be solved on the basis of the comradeship and diplomatic ties between the two countries.

He informed Dung of the outcomes of his talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son, stressing the important steps regarding land and sea border issues.

China considered its relations with Viet Nam very important and wished to boost diplomatic, cultural, economic and political co-operation, Zhang said.

He also affirmed that both countries had seriously implemented the common perception on border issues and sea travel, and have maintained stability on the East Sea.

Economic co-operation

A visiting Chinese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Commerce Zeng Jiang Wei attended the seventh session of the Viet Nam-China Economic Co-operation Committee in Ha Noi yesterday, April 19.

They came at the invitation of the Vietnamese Industry and Trade Ministry.

The two sides informed each other of their economic situations and reviewed development of bi-lateral trade and economic co-operation since the sixth session.

They also discussed multilateral co-operation within the region to further promote trade and economic relations.

Trade relations between Viet Nam and China have witnessed remarkable development in recent years with the two-way trade turnover last year reaching more than US$27 billion.

The two sides also discussed issues of trade imbalance, economic co-operation at borders and information exchange. They promoted progress and quality of projects executed by Chinese companies under Engineering, Procurement and Construction contracts.

Also on the agenda were preferential credits on infrastructure, plus transportation, health, agriculture and training of Viet Nam personnel.

On the same day, the delegation met with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai and Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News