Vietnam gives top priority to developing relations with China: PM

Hanoi (VNA) – Preserving and developing the traditional friendship and the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China is the top priority in the foreign policy of the Vietnamese Party and Government, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed on June 4.

During his online talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Chinh informed Li about outcomes of the 13th National Party Congress as well as the foreign policy of Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Party and Government have also viewed enhancing and developing the bilateral relationship in a healthy and effective manner as an important factor to stability and development in each country, thus contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large, he said.

Chinh congratulated the Communist Party of China on the occasion of its upcoming 100th anniversary, and expressed his belief that Chinese people will reap greater achievements, significantly contributing to maintaining regional and global peace, stability, development and prosperity.

The leaders said the relations between the two Parties and countries have developed fruitfully in all areas on the basis of the time-honoured friendship and direct instructions of key leaders of the Parties and countries, notably Vietnam’s Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and Party General Secretary and State President of China Xi Jinping, as well as efforts made by both sides.

They also shared the view on the significance of the traditional and friendly neighbourliness, the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and measures to strengthen the ties in the time to come.

Accordingly, the two sides will maintain regular exchanges and meetings at all levels flexibly in the present context, improve the quality, efficiency and sustainability of cooperation in economy, trade and investment, share experience in COVID-19 combat and socio-economic development, and closely coordinate at regional and international mechanisms.

They exchanged invitations to visit their respective countries at a suitable time when the pandemic is put under control.

The leaders also agreed on the need to take measures to deal with Vietnam’s trade deficit, increase the import of Vietnamese agro-forestry-fishery products, particularly such fruits as lychee, mango, dragon fruit and longan that are in the harvest season.

The supply and production chains between the two countries and in the world should not be disrupted, they said, adding that cooperation projects, including the Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line, should be sped up.

They suggested intensifying collaboration in the pandemic fight, and seeking suitable, effective solutions so that China can help Vietnam roll out its vaccine strategy.

Both emphasised the significance of fishery cooperation in the Gulf of Tonkin, and pushing ahead with the signing of an agreement on establishing a hotline to deal with emerging incidents.  

Regarding sea-related issues, Chinh suggested joint efforts in maintaining peace and stability, and satisfactorily handling issues at sea in the spirit of the common perceptions at the high level and respect for law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).

The two sides should control differences and heed interests, legal and legitimate rights  as well as situation of each other to settle the East Sea issue, he said, calling for joint efforts with ASEAN to accelerate the building of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

For his part, Li congratulated the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) on the success of its 13th National Congress, and achievements Vietnam has recorded in socio-economic development, and the pandemic fight.

The Chinese Party, State Council and people attach importance to the relations with Vietnam, and stand ready to deepen the friendly neighbourliness, bringing pragmatic interests to peoples of the two countries.

China will also enhance cooperation with and support to Vietnam in COVID-19 prevention and control, and take into consideration Vietnam’s suggestions for cooperation in economy, trade and investment, he said.

He affirmed that China wishes to step up negotiation mechanisms at sea and work together with ASEAN to soon reach the COC./.