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

The joint statement says in talks and meetings held during Trong’svisit, the two sides informed each other about the situation in theirrespective Parties and countries; discussed in depth how to furtherstrengthen the relations between the two Parties and countries in thenew situation, as well as international and regional issues of mutualconcerns, and achieved broad common perception.

Thetwo sides agreed that the visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong was a success, strongly boosting the stable, healthy and intensivedevelopment of the ties between the two Parties and countries, at thesame time making positive impacts on peace, stability, cooperation anddevelopment in the region and the world at large.

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

The two sides reviewed and summed up the great achievements during thedevelopment of the relationship between the two countries over the past61 years since Vietnam and China established diplomaticrelations, in particular the 20 years since the normalisation ofrelations, and reached a consensus that bilateral ties have developedrapidly and comprehensively in all fields. They stressed that mutualrespect, mutual understanding, mutual support, mutual trust and mutualcooperation are an important experience for the stable and healthydevelopment of the two countries’ relations; affirmed that theVietnam-China everlasting friendship is a value asset of both Parties,countries and peoples which must be constantly consolidated, developedand passed down to future generations.

The twosides affirmed Vietnam and China consistently pursue the motto of“friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-termstability, looking toward the future” and the spirit of “goodneighbours, good friends, good comrades, good partners”; from thestrategic level and overall vision will increase friendly exchangesbetween the two countries, expand mutually-benefiting cooperation in allfields, treasure, preserve and develop the relations between the twoParties and the two countries, promote the stable, healthy and long-termdevelopment of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperativepartnership.

The two sides agreed that in thecontext of deep and complicated developments of regional and worldsituation, the two Parties and countries of Vietnam and China’s furtherstrengthening of their strategic trust, close and comprehensivecooperation and satisfactory settlement of outstanding ornewly-arising problems between the two countries, suit the essential andlong-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 tocomprehensively and intensively expand the friendship and cooperation inall fields between the two countries.

Firstly, tomaintain the fine tradition of visits and meetings between high-rankingleaders in flexible and diverse forms such as bilateral visits, hot-linetalks, meeting at multilateral forums, dispatch of special envoys... inorder to timely exchange opinions on the regional and internationalsituation and important issues in bilateral ties, increase talks onstrategies, grasp the orientation for promoting the long-term, healthyand stable development of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategiccooperative partnership. During the visit, the two sides officiallyinaugurated a hot-line connecting high-ranking leaders of the twocountries.
Secondly, to bring into full play theimportant role of the Steering Committee for Vietnam-China BilateralCooperation in intensifying and bringing more substance to cooperation,promoting bilateral ties, further strengthening the guidance and policymaking on cooperation in all areas, boosting the overall cooperation,coordinating in addressing arising problems, pushing practicalcooperation in all fields for more achievements, unceasingly enrichingthe contents of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnershipbetween the two countries. Thirdly, to increase theexchange and cooperation between the two Parties, effectively implementthe “Cooperation Plan between the CPV and the CPC in the period of2011-2015”. Well organising theoretical workshops of the two Parties,increasing the sharing of experiences in Party building and managementof the country; expanding and intensifying cooperation in training Partyand government officials; holding meetings at commission director levelunder the mechanism of exchange, cooperation between the two Parties’commissions for external relations and commissions for propaganda at asuitable time. Fourthly, to promote cooperation indepth between the two armies, increase contact between high-ranking armyleaders of the two countries; continue to well organise strategicdialogues at deputy defence ministerial level; accelerate theestablishment of a direct telephone line between the two defenceministries; increase cooperation in personnel training and exchangesbetween young officers; conduct trial joint patrol along the land borderat a suitable time; continue to hold joint patrol of the two countries’naval forces in the Tonkin Gulf; increase cooperation in such fields asmutual visits by the two countries’ naval ships. Fifthly, to promote further cooperation between the two countries in lawenforcement and security; well organise the third ministerial meetingon crime prevention between the two ministries of public security;accelerate the deployment of joint activities to fight illegal migrationin border areas; promote the effective coordination in the preventionand 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; workingtogether to prevent and attack law violations, trans-national crimes;strengthening the coordination and mutual support in protecting thestability in respective countries. Sixthly, toincrease and expand the practical cooperation between the two countriesin line with the principles of equality, mutual benefit, emphasisingreal efficiency, supplementing each other’s strengths, diversifyingforms, mutual development: - To bring into full playthe role of the Committee for Economic-Trade Cooperation, theInter-governmental Committee for Scientific-Technical Cooperation inguiding, coordinating and monitoring the implementation of effectivecooperation between the two countries in related fields. Wellimplementing the “ Five-year Plan for Vietnam-China Economic-TradeCooperation” 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; increasediscussions on boosting bilateral trade balance, encourage and createfavourable conditions for enterprises of the two countries to expandlong-term and mutual beneficial cooperation, build border economiccooperation area and “two corridors, one belt” cooperation. - To continue to promote cooperation between the two countries in suchsectors as science-technology, education, human resource development,culture, health care, sports and journalism. Increase cooperation inenvironmental protection, water resource management and dealing withclimate change. Perform well the “2011-2015 education exchangeagreement”, increase the number of students sending to each other’scountry. - To continue to organise wellpeople-to-people exchanges, such as the Vietnam-China People Forum, theVietnam-China Youth Friendship Exchange, promote the dissemination ofinformation on the Vietnam-China friendship, increase guidance forpublic opinions and press management, promote the friendship between thetwo peoples, preserve the general friendship between the two countriesso that the Vietnam-China friendship is inherited and upheldbrilliantly. - To further expand exchanges andcooperation between localities of the two countries, especially coastaland border sharing provinces, including Lang Son, Lao Cai, Cao Bang,Quang Ninh, Dien Bien, Ha Giang and Lai Chau provinces of Vietnam andGuangxi, Guangdong, Yunnan and Hainan provinces of China. - To continue to well implement documents related to the Vietnam-Chinaland border, the “Tolkin Gulf Delimitation Agreement”, and the “FishingCooperation in the Tonkin Gulf Agreement”; actively seek new model injoint 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 acceleratethe negotiation process to early sign an agreement on free water trafficin the Bac Luan river mouth area and an agreement on cooperation inexploitation and protection of tourism resources in Ban Gioc waterfallarea, work together to maintain stability and development in borderareas. During the visit, the two sides signed the“Cooperation Plan between the CPV and the CPC (2011-2015)”, thefive-year Economic-trade Cooperation Development Plan between theVietnamese and Chinese Governments for the 2012-2016 period,” anagreement on education exchange for the 2011-2015 period between theVietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the Chinese Ministryof Education, a protocol between the Vietnamese and Chinese governmentsamending the Road Transport Agreement, a protocol on implementing theRoad Transport Agreement and an agreement on basic principles guidingthe settlement of sea issues between Vietnam and China. The two sides exchanged views in a sincere and straightforward manneron the sea issue, stressing their political will and determination tosettle disputes via friendship negotiation and talks in order tomaintain peace and stability in the East Sea; they held that this is inaccordance with basic interest of the two countries and the commonaspiration of the two peoples, and benefits peace, cooperation anddevelopment in the region. Leaders of the two Parties and the twocountries will maintain regular exchanges and dialogues on the sea issuebetween Vietnam and China and timely direct the proper settlementof 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 thesatisfactory handling and settlement of the sea issue. They vowed tomake exerted efforts to seriously implement this agreement. Based on the common perceptions reached by the high-ranking leaders ofthe two Parties and two countries and the “Agreement on basicprinciples guiding the settlement of sea issues”, the two sides willspeed up negotiations on the sea issue, seek basic and long-termsolutions acceptable to both sides, and at the same time activelydiscuss to find transitional and temporary measures that do not affecteach side’s stance and policies, including research and discussions oncooperation for mutual development. The two sides willfirmly speed up negotiations on the demarcation of areas beyond themouth of the Tonkin Gulf and actively discuss cooperation for mutualdevelopment on this area. The two sides will actively boost cooperationin such fields as marine environmental protection, marine scientificresearch, search and rescue at sea, oil and gas exploration andexploitation, and natural disaster prevention. Beforeachieving a definite settlement of the sea-related disputes, the twosides will together preserve peace and stability in the East Sea,maintain a cool-headed and restrained attitude, avoid taking any actsthat can complicate or expand the disputes, prevent hostile forces fromsabotaging the relationship between the two Parties and twocountries, deal with emerging issues with a constructive attitude,preventing them from affecting the relations between the two Parties andtwo 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 theTaiwan Strait and China’s great cause of unification, resolutely opposeall separatist acts for an “independent Taiwan” in any forms. Vietnamwill not develop any official relations with Taiwan . The Chineseside welcomed the above stance of the Vietnamese side. The two sides affirmed to continue expanding exchanges and cooperationbetween the two Foreign Ministries, well organise political exchangesbetween the two Foreign Ministries, and strengthen exchanges andcooperation at regional and international multilateral forums such asthe United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), theAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting(ASEM), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN + 1, ASEAN + 3, the EastAsia Summit (EAS) and the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), thus togetherpreserving and promoting peace, stability, cooperation, development andprosperity of the region and the world at large. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong invited General Secretary andPresident Hu Jintao to soon visit Vietnam again and the Chinese leaderexpressed thanks for the invitation./.

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