Vietnam-China joint statement

Vietnam and China issued a joint statement on the occasion of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to China from Oct 11-15 at the invitation of Chinese Party General Secretary and President Hu Jintao.

The joint statement says in talks and meetings held during Trong’s visit, the two sides informed each other about the situation in their respective Parties and countries; discussed in depth how to further strengthen the relations between the two Parties and countries in the new situation, as well as international and regional issues of mutual concerns, and achieved broad common perception.

The two sides agreed that the visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was a success, strongly boosting the stable, healthy and intensive development of the ties between the two Parties and countries, at the same time making positive impacts on peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

The two sides rejoiced at the historical achievements that the people of the two countries, under the leadership of the two Communist Parties, have made in the cause of socialist building in each country, in the renovation cause in Vietnam and the door-opening reform in China . The Vietnamese side warmly congratulated China on the 90 th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the smooth start in implementing the 12 th five-year Plan; expressed the firm belief that the CPC will unite and lead the Chinese people to achieve the great goal of building a comprehensive better-off society and accelerating the modernisation of socialism. The Chinese side congratulated Vietnam on the success of the 11 th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), and expressed the firm belief that the Vietnamese people will successfully achieve the goals and tasks set by the 11 th Party Congress, building Vietnam into a strong socialist country with rich people and a democratic, equal and civilised society.

The two sides reviewed and summed up the great achievements during the development of the relationship between the two countries over the past 61 years since Vietnam and China established diplomatic relations, in particular the 20 years since the normalisation of relations, and reached a consensus that bilateral ties have developed rapidly and comprehensively in all fields. They stressed that mutual respect, mutual understanding, mutual support, mutual trust and mutual cooperation are an important experience for the stable and healthy development of the two countries’ relations; affirmed that the Vietnam-China everlasting friendship is a value asset of both Parties, countries and peoples which must be constantly consolidated, developed and passed down to future generations.

The two sides affirmed Vietnam and China consistently pursue the motto of “friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability, looking toward the future” and the spirit of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades, good partners”; from the strategic level and overall vision will increase friendly exchanges between the two countries, expand mutually-benefiting cooperation in all fields, treasure, preserve and develop the relations between the two Parties and the two countries, promote the stable, healthy and long-term development of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The two sides agreed that in the context of deep and complicated developments of regional and world situation, the two Parties and countries of Vietnam and China’s further strengthening of their strategic trust, close and comprehensive cooperation and satisfactory settlement of outstanding or newly-arising problems between the two countries, suit the essential and long-term interests of the two Parties, two countries and two peoples, benefiting the cause of socialism in each country and peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The two sides agreed to take effective, practical measures to comprehensively and intensively expand the friendship and cooperation in all fields between the two countries.

Secondly, to bring into full play the important role of the Steering Committee for Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation in intensifying and bringing more substance to cooperation, promoting bilateral ties, further strengthening the guidance and policy making on cooperation in all areas, boosting the overall cooperation, coordinating in addressing arising problems, pushing practical cooperation in all fields for more achievements, unceasingly enriching the contents of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

Thirdly, to increase the exchange and cooperation between the two Parties, effectively implement the “Cooperation Plan between the CPV and the CPC in the period of 2011-2015”. Well organising theoretical workshops of the two Parties, increasing the sharing of experiences in Party building and management of the country; expanding and intensifying cooperation in training Party and government officials; holding meetings at commission director level under the mechanism of exchange, cooperation between the two Parties’ commissions for external relations and commissions for propaganda at a suitable time.

Fourthly, to promote cooperation in depth between the two armies, increase contact between high-ranking army leaders of the two countries; continue to well organise strategic dialogues at deputy defence ministerial level; accelerate the establishment of a direct telephone line between the two defence ministries; increase cooperation in personnel training and exchanges between young officers; conduct trial joint patrol along the land border at a suitable time; continue to hold joint patrol of the two countries’ naval forces in the Tonkin Gulf; increase cooperation in such fields as mutual visits by the two countries’ naval ships.

Fifthly, to promote further cooperation between the two countries in law enforcement and security; well organise the third ministerial meeting on crime prevention between the two ministries of public security; accelerate the deployment of joint activities to fight illegal migration in border areas; promote the effective coordination in the prevention and fight against new-styled crimes such as telecommunication frauds. Increasing exchanges and cooperation between such agencies as the court, the procuracy, public security, judicial administration; working together to prevent and attack law violations, trans-national crimes; strengthening the coordination and mutual support in protecting the stability in respective countries.

Sixthly, to increase and expand the practical cooperation between the two countries in line with the principles of equality, mutual benefit, emphasising real efficiency, supplementing each other’s strengths, diversifying forms, mutual development:

- To bring into full play the role of the Committee for Economic-Trade Cooperation, the Inter-governmental Committee for Scientific-Technical Cooperation in guiding, coordinating and monitoring the implementation of effective cooperation between the two countries in related fields. Well implementing the “ Five-year Plan for Vietnam-China Economic-Trade Cooperation” which was signed during this visit.

- To actively promote bilateral cooperation in such sectors as trade, investment, finance and banking, agro-forestry, transport, electricity, information technology, mining, energy, and tourism; increase discussions on boosting bilateral trade balance, encourage and create favourable conditions for enterprises of the two countries to expand long-term and mutual beneficial cooperation, build border economic cooperation area and “two corridors, one belt” cooperation.

- To continue to promote cooperation between the two countries in such sectors as science-technology, education, human resource development, culture, health care, sports and journalism. Increase cooperation in environmental protection, water resource management and dealing with climate change. Perform well the “2011-2015 education exchange agreement”, increase the number of students sending to each other’s country.

- To continue to organise well people-to-people exchanges, such as the Vietnam-China People Forum, the Vietnam-China Youth Friendship Exchange, promote the dissemination of information on the Vietnam-China friendship, increase guidance for public opinions and press management, promote the friendship between the two peoples, preserve the general friendship between the two countries so that the Vietnam-China friendship is inherited and upheld brilliantly.

- To further expand exchanges and cooperation between localities of the two countries, especially coastal and border sharing provinces, including Lang Son, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Quang Ninh, Dien Bien, Ha Giang and Lai Chau provinces of Vietnam and Guangxi, Guangdong, Yunnan and Hainan provinces of China.

- To continue to well implement documents related to the Vietnam-China land border, the “Tolkin Gulf Delimitation Agreement”, and the “Fishing Cooperation in the Tonkin Gulf Agreement”; actively seek new model in joint inspection of the common fishing zone in the Tonkin Gulf; accelerate the setting up of a hot-line between the two countries’ fisheries administration agencies.

- To accelerate the negotiation process to early sign an agreement on free water traffic in the Bac Luan river mouth area and an agreement on cooperation in exploitation and protection of tourism resources in Ban Gioc waterfall area, work together to maintain stability and development in border areas.

During the visit, the two sides signed the “Cooperation Plan between the CPV and the CPC (2011-2015)”, the five-year Economic-trade Cooperation Development Plan between the Vietnamese and Chinese Governments for the 2012-2016 period,” an agreement on education exchange for the 2011-2015 period between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the Chinese Ministry of Education, a protocol between the Vietnamese and Chinese governments amending the Road Transport Agreement, a protocol on implementing the Road Transport Agreement and an agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues between Vietnam and China.

The two sides exchanged views in a sincere and straightforward manner on the sea issue, stressing their political will and determination to settle disputes via friendship negotiation and talks in order to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea; they held that this is in accordance with basic interest of the two countries and the common aspiration of the two peoples, and benefits peace, cooperation and development in the region. Leaders of the two Parties and the two countries will maintain regular exchanges and dialogues on the sea issue between Vietnam and China and timely direct the proper settlement of the sea issue from the political and strategic height.

The two sides posted a positive assessment on the signing of the “Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues”, saying that it has an important steering significance for the satisfactory handling and settlement of the sea issue. They vowed to make exerted efforts to seriously implement this agreement.

Based on the common perceptions reached by the high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and two countries and the “Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues”, the two sides will speed up negotiations on the sea issue, seek basic and long-term solutions acceptable to both sides, and at the same time actively discuss to find transitional and temporary measures that do not affect each side’s stance and policies, including research and discussions on cooperation for mutual development.

The two sides will firmly speed up negotiations on the demarcation of areas beyond the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf and actively discuss cooperation for mutual development on this area. The two sides will actively boost cooperation in such fields as marine environmental protection, marine scientific research, search and rescue at sea, oil and gas exploration and exploitation, and natural disaster prevention.

Before achieving a definite settlement of the sea-related disputes, the two sides will together preserve peace and stability in the East Sea, maintain a cool-headed and restrained attitude, avoid taking any acts that can complicate or expand the disputes, prevent hostile forces from sabotaging the relationship between the two Parties and two countries, deal with emerging issues with a constructive attitude, preventing them from affecting the relations between the two Parties and two countries as well as peace and stability in the East Sea.

The Vietnamese side affirmed to consistently implement the “one-China” policy, support the peaceful development of the relations across the Taiwan Strait and China’s great cause of unification, resolutely oppose all separatist acts for an “independent Taiwan” in any forms. Vietnam will not develop any official relations with Taiwan . The Chinese side welcomed the above stance of the Vietnamese side.

The two sides affirmed to continue expanding exchanges and cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries, well organise political exchanges between the two Foreign Ministries, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation at regional and international multilateral forums such as the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN + 1, ASEAN + 3, the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), thus together preserving and promoting peace, stability, cooperation, development and prosperity of the region and the world at large.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong invited General Secretary and President Hu Jintao to soon visit Vietnam again and the Chinese leader expressed thanks for the invitation./.