Developing relations with China is a strategic choice and top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy.

On the afternoon of September 16, in Nanning City, Guangxi, China, on the occasion of attending the 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held talks with Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Qiang.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chinese Premier Li Qiang - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

In an atmosphere of sincerity, friendship, trust and openness, the two Prime Ministers expressed their joy and appreciation for the progress in Vietnam-China relations in recent times, especially after the historic visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to China in November 2022. On that basis, the two sides discussed in depth measures to promote bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual concern.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conveyed the greetings and best wishes of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, Chairman of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji, and Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks in an atmosphere of sincerity, friendship, trust and openness - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Prime Minister Li Qiang conveyed the greetings of General Secretary Xi Jinping, Comrade Zhao Leji, Comrade Wang Huning and other senior Chinese leaders to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and other senior Vietnamese leaders.

Emphasizing the importance of the Vietnam-China relationship in the overall foreign policy of each country, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam attach importance to and determine that developing a friendly, stable and healthy cooperative relationship with China is a strategic choice and top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy.

Premier Li Qiang affirmed that China always regards relations with Vietnam as a priority in China's overall neighborhood diplomacy. China supports Vietnam in successfully building and developing socialism in accordance with the country's situation, and is willing to work with Vietnam to continuously expand and deepen substantive cooperation between the two sides. Premier Li Qiang highly appreciated Vietnam's active and effective participation and important contributions to the CAEXPO and CABIS.

The two Prime Ministers expressed their joy and appreciation for the progress in Vietnam-China relations in recent times - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The two sides agreed to continue effectively implementing the common perception between the two General Secretaries on further promoting and deepening the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership as well as the agreements and results achieved during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to China (June 2023) and other high-level visits.

Accordingly, the two sides will promote high-level and all-level contacts; increase substantive cooperation in the fields of economics, trade, investment and people-to-people exchange; maintain coordination and cooperation in multilateral mechanisms and forums; coordinate to well manage land borders and control disagreements, and together maintain peace and stability at sea.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the two sides need to strengthen traffic connections and border gate infrastructure... - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the two sides need to promote geographical advantages and mutual complementarities to promote substantive cooperation in the fields of balanced and sustainable development; proposed that China accelerate the process of opening the market for Vietnam's agricultural and aquatic products, create conditions for the early establishment of Vietnam Trade Promotion Offices in Chengdu (Sichuan) and Haikou (Hainan), coordinate to improve customs clearance efficiency, and avoid congestion of goods at border gates. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam is ready to create favorable conditions for Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Vietnam, especially for large-scale, high-quality, modern technology projects that represent China's development level, bringing economic and people's benefits.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the two sides need to strengthen traffic connections and border gate infrastructure, study cooperation in planning and building a number of railway lines in the northern region of Vietnam, and improve the capacity of transporting goods both bilaterally and through third countries.

Prime Minister Li Qiang affirmed that China will continue to open its market to Vietnamese goods - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister also suggested that both sides make efforts to promote tourism cooperation to recover as before the COVID-19 pandemic; coordinate to thoroughly handle obstacles in a number of cooperation projects in the spirit of "harmonious benefits, shared risks", and speed up the implementation of China's non-refundable aid to Vietnam.

Appreciating and agreeing with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's cooperation proposals, Prime Minister Li Qiang affirmed that China will continue to open its market to Vietnamese goods, especially high-quality agricultural and aquatic products; further expand the scale and improve trade efficiency through upgrading border gate infrastructure, connecting policies, building smart border gates, promoting payments in local currency, etc.

Prime Minister Li Qiang said he has directed relevant Chinese ministries and sectors to actively discuss with Vietnam to promote specific areas of cooperation and jointly build stable supply chains and production chains.

Prime Minister Li Qiang also suggested that the two sides increase people-to-people exchanges and promote the traditional friendship between the two countries, especially among the younger generation; affirmed that the Chinese Government will encourage people to travel to Vietnam, support the opening of new air routes between the two countries and promote the implementation of aid projects for people's livelihood, health care and education in Vietnam.

The two sides exchanged sincere and frank opinions on maritime issues, agreeing to affirm the importance of properly controlling disagreements and maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that the two sides continue to strictly implement the high-level common perception and the "Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues between Vietnam and China"; respect each other's legitimate and legal rights and interests; resolve disputes and disagreements by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

During the occasion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's attendance at the CAEXPO Fair, the ministries, branches and localities of the two sides organized a number of activities such as: The launching ceremony of the pilot operation of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Scenic Area (Vietnam) - Duc Thien (China), the launching ceremony of the pilot construction of the "Huu Nghi - Huu Nghi Quan Smart Border Gate"; The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation.

The two Prime Ministers also discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern, agreeing to strengthen coordination and cooperation at regional and international forums.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Li Qiang sent his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and condolences to the injured in the major fire in Hanoi on September 12, 2023./.

According to baochinhphu.vn

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