HÀ NỘI – The Party, State and people of Việt Nam attach importance to strengthening the neighbourly friendship and comprehensive co-operation with Chinese counterparts, Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng said yesterday.

Talking to Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, Peng Qinghua, during a reception in Hà Nội, the Party General Secretary also laid stress on Guangxi’s significant role in Việt Nam–China ties.

He suggested Guangxi and Vietnamese localities focus efforts on effectively realising common perceptions reached by the two countries’ leaders and further improve the efficiency of their collaboration across all areas.

The Party official of Guangxi briefed his host about the development of ties between Guangxi and Việt Nam’s border localities, affirming that the authorities and people of the Guangxi Zhuang region wished to strengthen economic connectivity and practical partnerships with Việt Nam’s border provinces, thus building a borderline of peace, friendship, stability and prosperity between the two countries.

During an earlier reception for the Chinese guest, head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission, Phạm Minh Chính, called for stronger links between Vietnamese localities and Guangxi across the fields of the economy, trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, cultural exchange and tourism.

More balanced trade

Also yesterday, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc suggested the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China encourage the import of agro-forestry-fishery products from Việt Nam, particularly rice, for a more balanced trade between the two countries.

At the reception for Peng Qinghua yesterday, the PM also called for stronger coordination between the two countries in border management and in executing the agreements on cooperation in protecting and exploiting tourism resources at Bản Giốc water fall and on free navigation at the Bắc Luân river mouth.

The two sides should accelerate the opening and upgrading of pairs of border gates as already agreed, to promote trade-economic and tourism exchanges in border areas as part of efforts to build a borderline of peace, stability, cooperation and development, PM Phúc said.

He noted that Việt Nam-China ties have maintained a development trend, with important common perceptions and major orientations for bilateral ties reached by senior leaders of the two countries during high-level visits, particularly the China visit by Party General Secretary Trọng and the Việt Nam visit by Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping in 2015.

PM Phúc particularly pointed to the importance of Guangxi to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, adding that the Party and Government of Việt Nam always support mutually beneficial cooperation schemes between localities of the two countries, especially those along the border such as Guangxi.

For his part, the Guangxi official hailed the deepened cooperation between Guangxi and Vietnamese localities, noting that with 12 pairs of border gates between Guangxi and Vietnam, cross-border trade is growing rapidly.

He proposed that the two countries speed up the implementation of plans on joint economic zones including Dong Hung (China) – Móng Cái (Việt Nam) and Pingxiang (China) – Đồng Đăng (Việt Nam).

The “one check point – one stop” customs model and the “two corridors one economic belt” strategy should also be accelerated to boost bilateral trade, he said.

Peng Qinghua hailed Việt Nam’s potential and expressed the wish for comprehensive cooperation between Guangxi and Vietnam’s ministries and localities, while taking joint measures to maintain a peaceful, stable and prosperous borderline between the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh also hosted a reception in Hà Nội yesterday for Peng Qinghua.
He asked Guangxi to make thorough preparations for meetings between the two countries’ leaders during the 13th ASEAN-China Expo in Nanning, and the eighth conference of a joint working committee between Vietnam’s northern border provinces of Cao Bằng, Hà Giang, Lạng Sơn and Quảng Ninh, with Guangxi.
The host called for boosting cooperation in economics, trade, tourism and infrastructure connectivity, partly by encouraging Guangxi’s investment in Vietnam’s infrastructure and importing more Vietnamese goods.
He urged effective enforcement of three agreements on Việt Nam-China border management, the protection and exploitation of tourism resources at Cao Bằng’s Bản Giốc waterfall, and free navigation in the Bạc Luân river mouth.
Peng Qinghua, said Guangxi attaches importance to friendship and co-operation with Vietnamese localities.
He expressed his wish for realising common perceptions reached by the two countries’ leaders and agreements on deepening agreements on friendly exchanges with Vietnam’s border provinces, contributing to strengthening the China – Việt Nam comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership.— VNS