GUANGXI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc received Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli in Nanning, Guangxi yesterday. 
The PM is in Guangxi to attend the 13th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS), as part of his official visit to China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang from September 10-15. 
PM Phúc told the Chinese Vice Premier that this is the first time Việt Nam has attended the CAEXPO as the Honorary Country, which is a good opportunity for Việt Nam to enhance economic, trade and investment co-operation with China and other ASEAN countries. 
The PM thanked the Chinese Government for providing support to Vietnamese firms and localities in participating in the expo, adding that he believes in the success of the event thanks to the thorough preparations of the host country and the active participation of ASEAN countries. 
He appreciated the progress in Việt Nam-China co-operation in several fields, and informed his guest that during the visit, he intended to discuss with Chinese Party and Government leaders measures to promote the stable and healthy development of bilateral ties, including maintaining meetings and contacts between senior officials of the two Parties and countries. 
The two sides should also encourage exchange and win-win cooperation, as well as closer coordination to solve outstanding issues, thus taking bilateral economic, trade and investment ties to a new stage of quality, effective and sustainable development, PM Phúc said. 
He said that the two sides should work together to effectively control disputes at sea and persistently deal with disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, thus maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea and in the region. 
Phúc affirmed that "Việt Nam pursues a consistent external policy of peace, independence, multilateralisation and diversification, with strengthening the friendship and co-operation with China being one of the leading priorities". 
Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli expressed his belief that the visit of Prime Minister Phúc would be a success, contributing positively to the relations between the two Parties and countries. 
He noted that the presence of the PM and many Vietnamese firms at the 13th CAEXPO demonstrated the importance that the Vietnamese Government attaches to the China-Việt Nam and ASEAN-China ties, which helps ensure success of the event. 
The Vice Premier affirmed that the Chinese Party and Government attach importance to the relations with Việt Nam, and hope the two sides would maintain high-level contact, enhance political trust, promote substantial cooperation, expand people-to-people exchange while keeping good control of disputes towards the stable, healthy and sustainable development of the comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership of the two countries. — VNS