Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on April26 held talks with Chinese Premier LiKeqiang on the occasion of the Vietnamese Government leader’s trip toChina to attend the ongoing second Beltand Road Forum for International Cooperation.
PM Phuc appreciated active cooperation across fields between the twocountries’ ministries, sectors and localities in recent times, affirming that Vietnamattaches importance to the comprehensivestrategic cooperative partnership with China and wishes to promote the bilateralrelations in a stable and sustainable manner.
He expressed his support for China to uphold its increasing important role forpeace, stability and development of the region and the world, saying that he applaudsand supports the implementation of the “Belt and Road” initiative (BRI)
PM Phuc suggested the two sides maintain high-ranking exchanges and meetings,enhance political trust, and improve practical and effective cooperation in allfields.
He valued China’s effort to open its market for Vietnam’s dairy products and mangosteen,asking the Chinese side to open door for other Vietnamese farm produce,especially pork and swallow nest, as well as facilitate rice trade between thetwo nations.
PM Phuc applauded China’s implementation of projects using modern and environmentallyfriendly technologies in Vietnam, while asking for coordination from the Chineseside to handle a number of problems related to payment procedures, capitalincrease, slow construction progress, and low efficiency, in cooperationprojects between the two parties; and give suitable take-off and landing timefor Vietnam’s airlines.
The two sides need to accelerate the signing ofthe agreement to connect the railway route between Lao Cai province of Vietnamand Hekhou of China, and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese andChinese firms to effectively join the Chongqing-Singapore transport route, he said.
The Vietnamese leader also underlined the necessity for the two sides to boostand improve the efficiency of cooperation in the spheres of agriculture,culture, education, tourism, environmental protection and climate changeadaptation, sustainable use of Mekong river water, and nuclear safetymonitoring; well implement the three documents relating to land border betweenthe two countries; and enhance coordination at regional and internationalforums.
Regarding the issues at sea, PM Phuc proposed to strictly implement the commonperception of the high-ranking leaders, “Agreement on basic principles guidingthe settlement of sea-related issues”, well controldifferences, and have no actions to complicate the situation and increase disputes;promote negotiation mechanisms relating to the sea to achieve real progress;and achieve progress in the demarcation of waters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf in 2020.
He also asked for efforts from the two sides for handling fisheries andfishermen-related issues in a humanitarian spirit; soon signing the Vietnam -China search and rescue cooperation agreement and extending thebilateral agreement on the sea fishing hotline; fully and effectively implementing the Declarationon the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and promote substantive negotiations towards aneffective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with the international law, to maintain peace and stability in the EastSea.
For his part, Premier Li affirmed that China attaches importance todeveloping relations with Vietnam; and persists the guideline of good neighbourliness, friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term stability with Vietnam.
Agreeing with major directions and measures proposed by PMPhuc, Li said China does not pursue trade surplus to Vietnam but encouragesChinese enterprises to strengthen trade cooperation and expand investment inVietnam.
China will join Vietnam’s efforts to well control the differences in order to maintainpeace and stability in the East Sea, he said.
After the talks, PM Phuc and Premier Li witnessed the exchange ceremony of thethree documents on economic andtechnological cooperation, veterinary and public health requirements forVietnamese dairy products exported to China, and cultural and tourismcooperation between the two countries.
On the occasion of PM Phuc’s attendance in the Belt and Road Forum, the twocountries’ ministries and sectors signed other agriculture cooperationagreements.-VNA
VNA