Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) meets with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Manila on November 13 (Photo: VNA) Manila (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang shortly after the 31st ASEAN Summit concluded a plenary session in Manila, the Philippines, on November 13.
PM Phuc extended congratulations to Premier Li on the successful 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and his re-election as member of the CPC’s Politburo Standing Committee.
He noted with satisfaction that joint efforts have helped the two countries made progress in their relations, especially the maintenance of regular meetings between their leaders. He also thanked China for supporting 10 million RMB to help flood victims in Vietnam.
During the freshly concluded State visit to Vietnam and his attendance in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang by CPC General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, the two sides reached an important common perception on promoting the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in a stable, healthy and sustainable manner, the PM said, adding that Vietnam respects the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China.
He asked ministries, sectors and localities of the two countries to coordinate closely to enhance cooperation effectiveness, increase bilateral trade and take effective measures to boost the balanced and healthy growth of their trade.
China should continue facilitating the import of goods that Vietnam is strong at, particularly agro-forestry-fishery products. It should also ensure the progress and quality of China’s investment projects in Vietnam while encouraging Chinese businesses to step up investing in hi-tech projects in Vietnam, PM Phuc said.
He also called on China to bolster ties in finance, agriculture, environment, transport, and science-technology while asking both sides to connect the “Two Corridors and One Economic Belt” framework and the “Belt and Road” initiative well.
[Vietnam, China issue joint statement]
With regard to sea-related issues, the Vietnamese leader applauded ASEAN and China’s consensus on a framework of a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC). He also lauded the two countries’ effective cooperation in less sensitive sea-related fields and the release of fishery resources into the Tonkin Gulf.
PM Phuc urged both countries comply with important common perceptions reached by their Party and State leaders and the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues.
Vietnam and China need to persist in settling disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. They also need to promote substantive negotiations to build a valid and effective COC, control disagreements well, and maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, he added.
For his part, Premier Li congratulated Vietnam on successfully organising the 2017 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. He affirmed that the Chinese Party, State and people attach great importance to the consolidation and development of the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam.
The two sides need to thoroughly grasp the sound development orientation for China-Vietnam relations, increase high-level meetings to discuss strategies and major issues in bilateral ties, and continue deepening cooperation in all aspects to ensure mutual benefits.
Premier Li agreed with PM Phuc about the need for China to take measures to promote balanced trade and continue facilitating the import of Vietnamese goods into China.
In terms of sea-related matters, he said both sides need to seriously implement the reached common perceptions, manage and control disagreements well, maintain peace and stability at sea and the overall situation of the two countries’ relations, thereby bringing about practical benefits for the two peoples.
At the meeting, PM Phuc invited Premier Li to visit Vietnam in a near future. The Chinese leader accepted the invitation with pleasure.-VNA
VNA
