Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung speaks at the conference (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Deputy ForeignMinister Le Hoai Trung, Vietnam’s secretary general of the Steering Committee for Vietnam–China Bilateral Cooperation, held an online conference with the committee’s Chinese secretary general – Deputy Foreign Minister LuoZhaohui on May 29.
The two sides informed each other on their respective countries’ work inCOVID-19 prevention and control as well as measures to prevent transmissionfrom outside while resuming socio-economic activities after the outbreak. Theyvalued the mutual support and assistance in the fight against the pandemic.
The two sides noted that though a number of bilateral exchange andcooperation activities had been affected by the pandemic, but the impacts wereonly temporary. They agreed that Vietnam-China relations have kept itsdevelopment trend, as seen in high-level discussions in flexible forms,maintained trade and growth in bilateral trade value. Ministries, agencies andlocalities of the two countries, including the foreign ministries anddiplomatic representative agencies, have kept regular exchanges on coordinatingin pandemic fight and removing difficulties to strengthen cooperation, they said.
The two officials discussed specific measures to increase result-orientedcooperation and some major orientations including maintaining all-levelexchanges and contacts in flexible forms, and maximising the overallcoordinating role of the Steering Committee for Vietnam–China Bilateral Cooperation in enhancing partnerships between sectors,localities in different fields.
Deputy FM Trung asked the Chinese side to continue facilitatingand coordinating with Vietnam to accelerate customs clearance for goods at landborder gates. He suggested some specific measures such as designating bordergates for the trade of fruit and food, first of all the Lao Cai-Hekou railwayborder gate, increasing the number of cargo trains specializing in transportingfarm produce imported from Vietnam, and extending the hours for customsclearance at border gates.
Trung also urged China to accelerate procedures to open itsmarket to Vietnam’s farm produce and allow more Vietnamese companies to exportmilk and rice to China.
The two sides agreed to continue discussing their coordination inmanaging land border and organizing activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-China Land Border Treaty, the 10th year implementing three legal documents on land border. They also agreed toconduct joint border inspections in accordance with the Agreement on Vietnam - China land border management regulations and the Protocol on land border demarcation and marker plantation at a suitable time.
Thetwo sides engaged in sincere and candid discussion on the sea issue, reaching agreementon further making use of existing negotiation mechanisms for substantiveoutcomes. Deputy FM Trung voiced Vietnam’s concern about the recent complicateddevelopments in the East Sea and the stance on its legitimate rights andinterests in accordance with international law and the 1982 UN Convention onthe Law of the Sea. He urged that the two sides promote cooperation and solvedisputes in the spirit of respecting each other’s legitimate rights andinterests, reached agreements, common perceptions of both sides andinternational law./.
