China attaches importance to relations with Vietnam

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang made the statement during September 2 talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung who is in Nanning city for the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the 10th China-ASEAN Business-Investment Summit (CABIS).

Li said the Vietnamese delegation’s participation in the expo and summit reflects the Vietnamese Party and Government’s appreciation of strengthening the relationship with China as well as their support for the events. 

PMs Nguyen Tan Dung and Li Keqiang held talks in Nanning, China, on September 2 (Photo:VGP)

For his part, Dung reiterated the Vietnamese Party and State’s long-lasting and consistent policy of consolidating and strengthening the friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation with China. 

He spoke highly of the authorities of China and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region’s careful preparations for the events. 

Over the last ten years, CAEXPO has become one of the most prestigious and influential expos in the region and a good chance for ASEAN and China to strengthen their friendship and strategic partnership, he said. 

The two leaders said they were delighted to see positive developments in Vietnam-China ties in recent years. 

High-ranking meetings and exchanges have been maintained, especially the phone call between Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in March 2013 and President Truong Tan Sang’s state visit to China in June this year. 

Through the meetings, the two sides have reached important common perceptions and clearly identified major orientations to foster ties between the two Parties and countries. 

They have agreed to increase high-ranking visits and meetings, enhance cooperation for mutual benefit in all fields, especially economics and trade in order to fulfil the target of raising bilateral trade to US$60 billion by 2015 and implement joint large-scale economic projects, especially those in infrastructure while strengthening people-to-people exchanges. 

Regarding the sea-related issues, the two sides held that both nations need to together maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, well control the situation at sea and satisfactorily resolve every matter via peaceful negotiations. 

Dung emphasised that the two sides should strictly obey the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China, satisfactorily settle disputes through peaceful means and on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). 

He also suggested the two countries soon put into operation and promote the efficiency of the hotlines between the two Defence Ministries and fishery agencies as agreed, so as to promptly deal with arising problems, especially those relating to fishing vessels and fishermen. 

On the occasion, Dung invited Li to visit Vietnam in an early date and the latter accepted the invitation with pleasure. 

Later, the Vietnamese Government leader received Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Chen Wu and Yunnan province’s Governor Ly Jiheng.