Government-level agreement signed with China to cooperate in building 3 railway lines

Trao thỏa thuận cấp chính phủ hợp tác với Trung Quốc xây 3 tuyến đường sắt - Ảnh 1. — *Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son and Mr. Wang Yi in Beijing on December 10 – Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs*

The signing of the agreement between the two governments took place during the 16th session of the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee at the Diaoyutai State Guest House (China).

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi co-chaired the meeting.

At the meeting, Wang Yi expressed his confidence that under the leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, headed by General Secretary To Lam, Vietnam will become a developed, high-income country with a socialist orientation in the new era.

Mr. Bui Thanh Son proposed accelerating railway connectivity, prioritizing the implementation of three standard-gauge railway lines: Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong, Lang Son – Hanoi, and Mong Cai – Ha Long – Hai Phong, and restoring the international railway transport route between the two countries.

He also suggested creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese airlines in terms of flight slots; and ensuring the safe operation of the Ban Gioc - Duc Thien scenic area.

We propose that China continue to open its market to high-quality Vietnamese agricultural products and facilitate the opening of more trade promotion offices in several Chinese localities.

Trao thỏa thuận cấp chính phủ hợp tác với Trung Quốc xây 3 tuyến đường sắt - Ảnh 2. — *Delegates attending the 16th session of the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee on December 10-12 – Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs*

The Deputy Prime Minister also proposed promoting high-quality Chinese investment in Vietnam and effectively implementing Chinese aid. In addition, he suggested strengthening cooperation in areas such as agriculture, environment, finance and banking, science and technology, culture, and education and training.

Appreciating Vietnam's cooperation proposals, Mr. Wang Yi affirmed that China is ready to cooperate in resolving obstacles in some of its investment projects in Vietnam; and encouraged Chinese enterprises to invest in Vietnam in accordance with the needs and strengths of both sides.

Highlighting the need for both sides to strengthen strategic development linkages, Wang Yi also proposed cooperation in building stable supply chains and production chains in the region; and promoting further strong, in-depth, and substantive progress in areas of cooperation.

Regarding maritime issues, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the two sides had a frank exchange and agreed to continue to seriously implement the high-level common understanding, better control and resolve disagreements, and maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son suggested that both sides should persistently base their actions on the Agreement on Basic Principles Guiding the Resolution of the Vietnam-China Maritime Issues and international law, while also putting themselves in each other's shoes and respecting each other's sovereignty and legitimate interests.

Furthermore, it is necessary to continue promoting the role of maritime negotiation mechanisms, fostering substantive progress in maritime cooperation, and adequately addressing maritime issues, including those related to fishing vessels and fishermen, in accordance with international law and the spirit of friendship, as well as the positive development of bilateral relations.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged agreements between the two governments on cooperation in the construction of three standard-gauge railway lines: Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong, Lang Son – Hanoi, and Mong Cai – Ha Long – Hai Phong.