Vietnam, China prepare for high-level visits

The agreement was reached during their phone talks on September 19 between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.

Chinh suggested that China facilitate customs clearance, expand the import of goods, and especially accelerate the opening of the market for Vietnamese agricultural products, and at the same time work closely with Vietnam to make good use of opportunities from multilateral free trade agreements.  

Vietnam expects to receive China’s high-quality investment in fields suitable to its needs and sustainable development strategy, he said.

He also suggested that Vietnam and China work closely together to solve outstanding problems in a number of cooperation projects between the two countries, such as the expansion of the Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Plant (Phase II), the Ninh Binh Fertilizer Plant, and the Ha Bac Fertilizer Plant.

Both countries should soon open more commercial flights to each other’s destinations, effectively respond to emerging challenges, and work together to ensure energy security, food security, water security, and cyber security, while increasing the exchange of experiences in macroeconomic stability, inflation control, and growth promotion, said the Vietnamese PM.

For his part, Premier Li highly appreciated Chinh’s proposals and said the two sides should strengthen strategic connectivity, enhance economic - trade and investment cooperation, especially in the fields of manufacturing and agriculture, and cooperate in maintaining supply and production chains, and bringing into full play their strengths to jointly expand the world market.

China is ready to increase the frequency of commercial flights, boost people-to-people exchanges, and welcome back Vietnamese students, said Li.

The two sides agreed to maintain effective communication channels, and properly handle differences regarding land border and maritime issues for the sake of peace and stability.

To this end, PM Pham Minh Chinh suggested the two sides continue to well implement three legal documents on land border, properly handle maritime issues, accelerate negotiations at sea, and settle disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The two PMs consented to direct the two sides to promote the negotiation mechanisms on maritime delimitation and cooperation, together with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and strive to build an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC) in line with international law, including UNCLOS 1982.

PM Pham Minh Chinh on this occasion extended greetings to Chinese leaders on China’s 73rd National Day (October 1), and expressed his belief that China would successfully complete the goal of building a modern, prosperous, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful socialist country. He also wished the coming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China a great success, marking a new milestone in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Premier Li Keqiang cordially invited PM Pham Minh Chinh and other senior Vietnamese leaders to visit China at the earliest possible time.