Vietnam places importance on strategic cooperative partnership with China

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

PM Phuc was appreciative of effective cooperation across a variety of fields between the two countries’ ministries, sectors and localities in recent times and voiced his support for China to enhance its increasingly important role for peace, stability and development of the region and the world. He said he hails and backs the implementation of the “Belt and Road” initiative (BRI).

The Vietnamese cabinet leader urged both sides to maintain high-ranking exchanges and meetings, enhance political trust, and step up practical and effective cooperation in multiple fields.

He applauded China’s effort to open its market for Vietnam’s dairy products and mangosteen, asking the Chinese side to open door for other Vietnamese farm produce, especially pork and swallow nest, as well as facilitate rice trade between the two countries.

PM Phuc appreciated China’s implementation of projects using modern and environmentally friendly technologies in Vietnam, while asking for coordination from the Chinese side to deal with a number of problems pertaining to payment procedures, capital increase, slow construction progress, and low efficiency, in cooperation projects between the two parties, and give suitable take-off and landing time for Vietnam’s airlines.

He underscored the need for the two sides need to speed up the signing of the agreement to connect the railway route between Lao Cai province of Vietnam and Hekhou of China, and offer favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Chinese businesses to effectively join the Chongqing-Singapore transport route.

Phuc also asked the two sides to improve the efficiency of cooperation in agriculture, culture, education, tourism, environmental protection and climate change adaptation, sustainable use of Mekong river water, and nuclear safety monitoring; well implement the three documents relating to land border between the two countries, and beef up coordination at regional and international forums.

With regard to the issues at sea, PM Phuc urged both sides strictly implement the common perception of the high-ranking leaders, “Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues”, well control differences, and have no actions to complicate the situation and increase disputes; promote negotiation mechanisms relating to the sea to achieve substantial progress in the demarcation of waters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf in 2020. 

He also called for the combined efforts to tackle fisheries and fishermen-related issues in a humanitarian spirit, soon sign the Vietnam - China search and rescue cooperation agreement and extendthe bilateral agreement on the sea fishing hotline, fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and promote substantive negotiations towards an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with the international law, to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.

Premier Li, in turn, affirmed his nation’s recognition of great importance to developing ties with Vietnam, and persists with the guideline of good neighbourliness, friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term stability with Vietnam. 

Agreeing with major directions and measures proposed by PM Phuc, Li said China does not pursue trade surplus to Vietnam but encourages Chinese businesses to augment trade cooperation and intensify investment in Vietnam.

China will join Vietnam’s efforts to well control the differences so as maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, he told his guest.

After the talks, PM Phuc and Premier Li witnessed the exchange ceremony of the three documents on economic and technological cooperation, veterinary and public health requirements for Vietnamese dairy products exported to China, and cultural and tourism cooperation between the two countries.

On the occasion of PM Phuc’s attendance at the Belt and Road Forum, ministries and sectors from both nations signed a number of agriculture cooperation agreements.