Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has thanked China for responding to Vietnam’s call to release water from Jinghong hydropower plant in Yunnan province, to provide water for emergency use by countries downstream on the Mekong river, amid the ongoing severe drought.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R).

The Deputy PM, who is in China to attend the first Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Leaders' Meeting and the Boao Forum for Asia’s annual conference in the Chinese province of Hainan, met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on March 23.

Minh suggested ideas to materialise agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders, including maintaining high-level visits; increasing people-to-people friendship exchanges; promoting the healthy and balanced development of economic, trade, investment, financial and monetary ties; effectively implementing credit and non-refundable grants and facilitating cross-border economic development.

On sea-related issues, he expressed concern over the recent developments in the East Sea and asked China to realise high-level agreements and common perception, manage and settle disputes in line with international law, effectively utilise the mechanism of bilateral talks on sea issues, join the ASEAN countries in implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and working towards formulating a Code of Conduct in the East Sea soon; refrain from acts that exacerbate the situation and properly deal with fisheries issues.

The Chinese Premier pledged to maintain high-level visits and increase people-to-people exchanges with Vietnam, while promoting practical collaboration towards, well managing disputes with a view to continuously deepening the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

China is committed to continued assistance and coordination with relevant countries to help Vietnam overcome drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta, he said.

Earlier, Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh met with his Russian counterpart Arkady Dvorkovich, during which they agreed to continue regular high-level visits to strengthen mutual trust.

They stressed the need to accelerate the ratification of the Vietnam – Eurasian Economic Union free trade agreement and bolster trade and investment, particularly in farm produce, industry, energy and oil and gas.

The two officials committed to working closely together and with ASEAN member states to prepare for the summit marking the 20th anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia dialogue partnership this May in Russia, creating a new driving force for ASEAN-Russia ties and for peace, stability and development in the region.

VNA