VietNamNet Bridge – The two countries have discussed major orientations and measures to promote the friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive strategic partnership.

Beijing welcomes President Sang

President Truong Tan Sang and his delegation arrived in Beijing on June 19, beginning a three-day official visit to China at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping.

At the talks after the welcome ceremony, President Sang and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping reviewed the bilateral relations in various field over the years and compared notes on international and regional issues of common concern.

The Chinese President said his country attaches high importance to the visit which, he hopes, will add fresh impetus to strengthening mutual understanding, trust and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two nations.

The time-honoured friendship and cooperation nurtured by generations of leaders and predecessors is a valuable asset to the two Parties, States and peoples, Xi said.

President Sang congratulated China on its successful organization of the 18th Congress of the Communist Part of China (CPC) in late 2012 and the first session of the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the People’s Political Consultative Congress in March 2013 which formally endorsed a new leadership for China’s State Council and cabinet and worked out major orientations for the country’s development in the time to come.

Sang conveyed Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s best regards to Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping along with other Chinese senior leaders.

He reaffirmed the Vietnamese Party, State and people’s basic, consistent and long-term policy of treasuring the friendly neighbourliness and all-round cooperation with China, adding that the Vietnamese Party, State and people are willing to spare no efforts together with the Chinese counterparts to elevate the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level.

The two sides were delighted to see the ties between the two Parties and two countries making great strides over the past time and applauded the signing of an action programme to implement the Vietnam-China strategic cooperative partnership and many other important cooperation documents during this visit.

They agreed to reinforce the political trust between the two Parties and two countries, promote high-level visits, effectively implement cooperation agreements between Party agencies, ministries, agencies and localities and strengthen the exchange between organisations and young people in order to boost education about the friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

They emphasised the need to enhance the important role of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially those of the Steering Committee for Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation, and increase their practical cooperation.

Both sides concurred to step up mutually-beneficial cooperation in the areas of economics, trade, culture, sports, tourism, education, health care, and science and technology with the intention of strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and China.

President Sang suggested that the two sides should instruct their ministries and sectors to grasp thoroughly, effectively carry out the previously signed cooperation agreements and those during this visit and improve the quality of cooperation in trade and economics.

They should coordinate effective and strong measures to maintain steady trade growth, reduce Vietnam’s trade deficit and raise bilateral trade to US$60 billion by 2015.

President Sang spoke highly of Chinese investment in major projects on infrastructure construction, manufacturing, and support industry with advanced technology in Vietnam.

The two sides welcomed the signing of a revised agreement on border defence cooperation and the working statutes of the Vietnam-China Joint Committee on land border gate management on the occasion of President Sang’s visit.

They said these agreements will help increase the efficiency of management cooperation and coordination, maintain security and order and facilitate trade exchanges between the two peoples at border areas as a contribution to building a joint border line of peace, stability, cooperation and development.

Both sides also agreed to maintain regular exchanges and dialogues on sea issues and properly implement the Vietnam-China agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues.

They consented to settle disputes through peaceful means in line with international law, seek basic and long-term solutions acceptable to both sides and deal with arising issues, not letting them affect the healthy development of the two countries’ relations as well as peace and stability in the East Sea.

They agreed to implement comprehensively and effectively the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), as well as working together to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.

In the time to come, they will actively carry out the agreed projects relating to less sensitive fields at sea.

President Sang laid stress on the issue of fishing which is closely related to the livelihood and interests of millions of Vietnamese fishermen. He asked both sides to intensify coordination to solve this issue satisfactorily to ensure fishermen’s legitimate rights and interests.

The Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture should coordinate closely in the future to implement effectively an agreement on the establishment of a hotline dealing with unexpectedly arising matters relating to sea fishing, which was also signed on this occasion, Sang said.

The two leaders held that their countries need to boost coordination at multilateral forums, including the United Nations, World Trade Organisation (WTO), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN-China Summit, East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Summit plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN+3), as well as work together to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

President Sang used the occasion to invite his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and other Chinese senior leaders to visit Vietnam soon.

President Xi Jinping accepted the invitation with pleasure, and invited General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese senior leaders to visit China at an appropriate time.

After the talks, the two Presidents witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents.

Source: VOV