The 5th session of the Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation was held in Hanoi on Sept. 6 under the chair of Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo.

In a sincere, frank and friendly atmosphere, the two sides exchanged in-depth views and reached a broad common perception on the more comprehensive development of the Vietnam-China relationship.

During the course of the session, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung separately received Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo. Dai conveyed a verbal message of Chinese Party General Secretary Hu Jintao to his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong on the development of relations between the two Parties and countries.

On the occasion of the 5th founding anniversary of the steering committee, the two sides positively valued the steering committee’s activities over the past five years, saying that it has brought into play its important role in coordinating and promoting the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and countries in a more intensive, practical and effective manner and in conformity with the fundamental interests and common aspirations of both countries’ people.

The two sides said, in the current context of complicated international situation and profound changes, Vietnam-China relations are developing healthily and stably, meeting the fundamental interests of the two nations’ people and benefiting regional peace, stability and development.

The two sides agreed to maintain high-ranking meetings, fully promote the role of the steering committee, make a master plan on cooperation in various fields, exchange experience in national management and continue to well organise theoretical seminars between the two Parties.

The two sides also agreed to effectively promote cooperation mechanisms between sectors, further deepen practical cooperation in the fields of economics, trade, military affairs, law enforcement, security, science, education and health care, and expand people-to-people exchanges in order to ensure that Vietnam-China relations always develop in an active, healthy and stable direction.

The two sides held that the satisfactory settlement of the sea-related issues is very important to maintaining the general situation of Vietnam-China friendly and cooperative relations, affirming that they would base on the common perception of the two countries’ leaders, international law and the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and persistently pursue friendly talks and negotiations to peacefully settle marine disputes and take effective measures to maintain and defend peace and stability in the East Sea.

Both sides will speed up the pace of negotiations and seek fundamental and long-term solutions acceptable to both sides. The two sides agreed to increase negotiations on sea-related issues so as to soon sign an agreement on basic principles on guiding the settlement of sea issues between Vietnam and China. The two sides will also speed up the implementation of the DOC and future work to soon make practical progress./.