President suggests Vietnam and China increase high-level contacts

President Vo Van Thuong received Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and suggested that the two countries increase high-level exchanges and contacts in the coming time.

At the Presidential Palace on December 1, President Vo Van Thuong received Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the occasion of his visit to Vietnam and co-chaired the 15th meeting of the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee with Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

The President stressed that Vietnam and China are close neighbors, sharing many similarities in history and culture, and are both persistently advancing towards socialism under the leadership of the Communist Party. Vietnam always considers relations with China a strategic choice, a top priority in its overall foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification.

To further deepen the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, the President suggested that both sides strengthen and improve high-level exchanges and contacts, and effectively implement cooperation between the two Parties, between the National Assembly , the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

President Vo Van Thuong received Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on December 1. Photo: Giang Huy — President Vo Van Thuong received Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on December 1. Photo: *Giang Huy*

President Vo Van Thuong also suggested that the two sides strengthen cooperation in important areas such as diplomacy, defense, security, improve the quality and effectiveness of substantive cooperation in various fields, focusing on economics, trade, investment, and transportation; and increase people-to-people exchange.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the President suggested that both sides implement the high-level common perception, better control and resolve disagreements at sea, put themselves in each other's shoes, respect each other's legitimate and legal interests, in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and jointly build the East Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi affirmed that China attaches importance to the friendly neighborly relationship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, always considering this a priority direction in China's overall neighborly diplomacy policy, and always supports Vietnam in successfully implementing industrialization and modernization.

Mr. Wang Yi expressed his agreement that the two sides should continue to implement the high-level common perception and implement specific cooperation measures identified at the 15th meeting of the Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, promote further deepening cooperation in various fields between the two countries, and properly control and handle disagreements at sea.

Minister Bui Thanh Son and Foreign Minister Wang Yi shook hands before their talks at the Government Guest House on the afternoon of December 1. Photo: Vu Anh — Minister Bui Thanh Son and Foreign Minister Wang Yi shook hands before their talks at the Government Guest House on the afternoon of December 1. Photo: *Vu Anh*

During talks at the Government Guest House this afternoon, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed on the need to promote and coordinate careful preparations for high-level and all-level exchanges and contacts in the coming time.

Minister Bui Thanh Son suggested that China continue to expand imports of Vietnamese goods and agricultural and aquatic products, strengthen transport infrastructure connectivity, especially railways and roads, actively discuss and soon find solutions to completely resolve pending projects.

Mr. Wang Yi affirmed that the Chinese Foreign Ministry is ready to closely coordinate with the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, promote high-level visits in the coming time, and suggest that the two sides strengthen the strategic connection between the "Belt and Road" initiative and the "Two Corridors, One Belt" framework.

Regarding the territorial border issue, the two sides agreed to continue to coordinate to effectively implement the three legal documents on the Vietnam-China land border, strengthen border management, accelerate the opening and upgrading of a number of agreed border gate pairs, and effectively implement the pilot operation of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Scenic Area (Vietnam) - Detian (China).

Nguyen Tien - Vu Anh

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