Vietnam full of praise for China’s valuable support
Vietnam always treasures China’s valuable support and assistance and wants the country to more closely coordinate with Vietnam in carrying out the agreements reached by leaders from both sides under the “16-word” motto and the “four goods” spirit.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said this at a reception for the visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping in Hanoi on December 22.
Mr Dung spoke highly of the Chinese State leader’s visit which shows the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s desire to constantly solidify the cooperative relations and friendship between Vietnam and China. He also praised the results of cooperation in various fields over the past year which serves as an important foundation for bringing the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height in the future.
For his part, Mr Xi Jinping said he agreed on measures to promote bilateral ties put fourth by PM Dung, while emphasizing that the Vietnam-China friendship is a valuable asset that should be preserved and developed to benefit both nations.
The two leaders agreed that Vietnam and China need to continue promoting political trust and mutual understanding by maintaining the exchange of visits by senior leaders and representatives from various ministries, sectors and localities, and improving the role and efficiency of cooperation mechanisms, especially of the Steering Committee for Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation.
Mr Dung asked the two sides to approve the lists in the five-year development plan for economic cooperation, increase the efficiency of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and expand areas of potential, with the aim of doubling two-way trade turnover by 2015.
Mr Xi Jinping called on both sides to boost cooperation in key areas such as transport, energy, agriculture and fishery, towards the goal of US$60 billion in two-way trade by 2015.
The two nations need to ensure the balance of trade, build key cooperation projects within the framework of “two corridors, one economic belt” and support Chinese businesses investing in this area, Xi Jinping added.
Regarding the land border issue, PM Dung said the two countries need to work together on the three signed documents, accelerate the signing of a cooperation agreement on exploring natural resources for tourism development on Ban Gioc waterfall and an agreement on free water traffic in the Bac Luan River mouth area, and increase cooperation in the management and effective use of water resources in border areas.
Concerning the sea issue, Mr Dung reiterated Vietnam’s stance on the East Sea issue and asked the two sides to respect and pay attention to their aspirations and legitimate interests based on the agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, for the sake of peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and in the world.
PM Dung asked the government delegations in negotiation to discuss ways of carrying out the agreements on the basic principles of resolving the sea issues.