Vietnam treasures friendly relations with China: PM

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Meeting with Zhang Dejiang, Permanent Politburo member and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China in Hanoi on the morning of November 9, the government leader highlighted the significance of the acceleration of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership in the time ahead.

He suggested both sides maintain high-level meetings; boost political trust; enhance the cooperation through the Party and State channels; effectively implement cooperative mechanisms, including foreign affairs, national defence and security; strengthen the exchange between the two countries’ people and younger generations; and promote communication on the Vietnam-China friendship.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Permanent Politburo member and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Zhang Dejiang

The two sides need to facilitate practical cooperation in all fields and take more drastic, effective and feasible measures to gradually develop bilateral trade in a balanced and stable fashion, PM Phuc said.

He called on China to implement high-tech projects in Vietnam, soon sign extension of the hotline agreement on unexpected incidents in fishing activities at sea, and join the Mekong countries to promptly implement the initiative to build a Lancang-Mekong water resource cooperation centre, which was approved last March.

Expressing his impression at the lively exchange between Vietnamese and Chinese border localities over the past time, the host recommended the two countries continue to develop this cooperation channel.

He insisted both sides take good control of differences; maintain peace and stability in the East Sea; comply with the common perception of senior leaders of the two Parties and countries as well as the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues; and respect international laws and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam wishes to work with China and ASEAN nations to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and finalize a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), PM Phuc noted.

The Chinese guest congratulated Vietnam on its significant achievements obtained under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, while informing the host of the outcomes of his talks with Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, during which both sides discussed measures to strengthen ties between the National People’s Congress of China and the Vietnamese National Assembly.

The Chinese Party and government also treasure relations with Vietnam, he said, stressing the  importance of drastically implementing the common perceptions reached by senior leaders of the two nations in the meantime.

In order to enhance bilateral relations, Zhang Dejiang suggested both sides strengthen strategic exchanges and convert the mutual perceptions on the significance of the Vietnam-China ties as well as the mutual aspiration to develop relations between the two Parties and States into political trust. Communications on the China-Vietnam traditional friendship should also be boosted, alongside the acceleration of people-to-people exchange in order to create a good environment for the development of bilateral cooperation, he added.

The guest urged both sides to take control of differences at sea and keep conflicts from escalating and expanding, causing impacts on relations between the two countries.

China wishes to work with Vietnam to well promote the role of the steering committee for bilateral cooperation and find out a number of new growth points in bilateral trade and economic cooperation, he said.

Zhang Dejiang affirmed that China pledges to continue promoting the connectivity between the framework of “two corridors, one belt” and the initiative “one belt, one road”, and create an open space for bilateral cooperation for mutual development.

He also suggested both countries work closely together at multilateral forums, including the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation, and agree on general measures concerning the building of a cross-border economic cooperation area.