The Vietnamese President congratulated China on successfully holding the first meeting of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (new tenure) following the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China which elected new State and Government leaders for the new tenure. 

He asked for strengthening political trust and maintaining regular exchanges among high-ranking leaders and stepping up exchanges between the two countries’ ministries, agencies, localities, businesses and people. 

The host said both sides need to direct departments and agencies to fully implement the two nations’ agreements, promote economic-trade and investment ties up to their political relations, and facilitate exchanges to raise mutual understanding between people of all walks of life. 

The President suggested ministries, agencies and localities enhance economic connectivity and push forward balanced and sustainable two-way trade, and improve the efficiency of mutually-beneficial coordination to bring practical benefits to the two peoples. 

He requested settling issues at sea in the spirit of respect for each other’s legitimate interests and international law, adding that both sides need to seriously follow common perceptions of the two Parties and countries’ leaders and the Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of issues at sea in order to peacefully address disputes at sea. 

The two countries need to soundly manage disputes and prevent actions that further complicate the situation, contributing to peace and stability in the East Sea. 

Wang, who is in Vietnam for the sixth Greater Mekong Sub-Region Summit, affirmed that the Party, Government and people of China is willing to promote friendly neighborliness and comprehensive ties with Vietnam. 

He said China will seriously follow the Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of issues at sea and wished that both sides would not further complicate the situation and deal with it properly.

Vietnam treasures comprehensive cooperation with China: PM

Vietnam always treasures the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with China, regarding maintaining the stable and healthy relations with China as fitting the two countries’ fundamental and long-term interests and benefitting the preservation of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made the affirmation while hosting a reception in Hanoi on March 31 for Chinese State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The Vietnamese leader underlined that Wang Yi’s official visit to Vietnam and his attendance at the sixth Greater Mekong Subregion Summit (GMS-6) are a vivid illustration of China’s support for the bilateral ties and the neighbouring country’s hosting of GMS-6.

Both sides need to enhance the fruitful relations via high-level exchanges, he said, noting that they should address bottlenecks to bring greater economic benefits to each nation.

He suggested China facilitate imports of Vietnamese products, invest in high-tech and environmentally friendly projects in Vietnam as well as put forth collaboration with the Southeast Asian country in transport, agriculture, environment, science and technology and finance.

He expressed his hope that China will create favourable conditions for Vietnam to access Chinese preferential funds.

Regarding the sea issues, PM Phuc laid stress on the serious implementation of the agreement on the basic principles guiding the settlement of issues at sea between Vietnam and China, saying that the issues must be tackled in respect of each other’s legal benefits and international regulations, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982.

Negotiation mechanisms should be promoted to well control disputes and maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, he added.

Congratulating Vietnam on its successful organisation of the GMS-6, the Chinese diplomat affirmed that the Chinese Party, Government and People stand ready to enhance the friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam.

He said that his country will grasp opportunities to bolster collaboration for mutual benefits, and work to address appropriately disagreements to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea and continuously develop the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in a stable and healthy fashion.

Deputy PM holds talks with Chinese Foreign Minister

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi in Hanoi on April 1 on the occasion of Wang Yi’s official visit to Vietnam and attendance at the 6th Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit (GMS-6) in Hanoi from March 29-31.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM congratulated China on the successful organisation of the first annual sessions of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) to elect new leaders for the new tenure. 

The Vietnamese State and Government attach great importance to and want to further develop the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, Minh said.

The two sides agreed to promote visits among leaders and step up cooperation between ministries and departments in addition to expanding people-to-people and locality-to-locality exchanges. They pledged to push forward the implementation of common perceptions and cooperation agreements reached by their leaders, while actively supporting the settlement of existing and emerging problems, thus maintaining the stable development of bilateral relations.

Deputy PM Minh suggested measures to promote the important role of the steering committee for Vietnam-China bilateral cooperation in coordinating collaborative activities between the two countries’ ministries, departments and localities. He said the two foreign ministries should enhance coordination to beef up Vietnam-China cooperation.

The deputy PM asked China to make it easier for Vietnam to export its advantageous goods to the Chinese market, and develop bilateral trade in a balanced and healthy manner, as well as help for the effective implementation of China’s aid packages for Vietnam. 

He urged strengthening win-win cooperation in the fields of agriculture, environment, climate change response, science - technology, finance, transport, and economy, thus enhancing mutual economic trust between the two sides.

The host expressed his concerns over potential factors that can intensify tension and instability at sea, stating that the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnam should be respected in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982.

He proposed the two sides seriously implement the common perceptions reached by their leaders and the Vietnam-China agreement on fundamental principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues, while persistently resolving disputes in the East Sea via peaceful means and in line with international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS.

Vietnam and China should step up efforts to reach new progress in the government-level negotiations on territory and borders and talks of the three working groups on the sea area off the Gulf of Tonkin, he said.

He proposed the two sides cooperate in less sensitive fields at sea, and discuss partnership for mutual development at sea, while implementing fully and effectively the Declaration on the Conducts of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), actively working with ASEAN member countries to build a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea, well controlling maritime disputes without taking any actions to complicate the situation, thus maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea.

FM Wang Yi congratulated Vietnam on successfully organising the GMS-6 Summit, which makes significant contributions to promoting cooperation between GMS countries and increasing the position of Vietnam in the international arena.

He affirmed that the Chinese Party and Government pay great attention to reinforcing and developing the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Vietnam.

China is willing to work with Vietnam to increase strategic exchanges and political trust as well as deepen cooperation for mutual benefits and address disputes in a proper manner for the healthy and stable development of the bilateral relations, bringing practical benefits for both countries and their people, thus contributing to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

The two sides later met with the press to inform the outcomes of their talks.

VNA