BEIJING — The top Party leaders of Việt Nam and China discussed major orientations to reinforce trust and friendship, step up win-win co-operation, maintain peace and stability at sea, and continue their healthy and sustainable relationship during talks in Beijing yesterday.

The talks between visiting General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV), Nguyễn Phú Trọng, and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and Chinese President, Xi Jinping, took place in the Great Hall immediately after an official welcome ceremony.

General Secretary Xi warmly welcomed General Secretary Trọng on his first China visit after the 12th Party Congress, saying it was crucial to deepening Việt Nam-China relations.

He warmly congratulated the CPV on its successful 12th Congress, while speaking highly of Việt Nam’s attainments in all fields. He expressed his belief that the Vietnamese people will soon turn Việt Nam into a modern, industrial country of  prosperity, democracy, justice, civilisation and socialism.

He affirmed that China attaches much importance to ties with Việt Nam and stands ready to work with the Party, State and people in strengthening the bilateral friendship and partnership, making the Việt Nam-China strategic partnership grow in a healthy and stable manner.

The Vietnamese Party chief congratulated China on its important achievements in reform and building socialism according to Chinese characteristics, and expressed his wish that the Party, Government and people of China will successfully accomplish the target of building a well-off, democratic, civilised and harmonious socialist China.

The two leaders agreed that in the context of crisis and uncertainties in many parts of the world, the stable development of both countries is important to their people.

Both sides agreed to maintain high-ranking exchanges and meetings between leaders of the two Parties and States to exchange views and tackle issues arising in bilateral ties, as well as to chart strategic directions to boost co-operation, maintain friendship and develop Việt Nam-China ties.

The leaders also agreed to promote and improve existing collaboration mechanisms between the two Parties and two countries, especially meetings between representatives of the two Politburos and the Steering Committee for the Việt Nam-China bilateral co-operation.

They agreed on the importance of increasing exchanges and co-operation between the Parties, parliaments and fatherland fronts, as well as stronger ties in diplomacy, defence, security and in the links between the border guard and law enforcement forces of the two countries.

Balanced trade

The two countries should also closely co-ordinate at multilateral forums, while supporting each other in running for positions at international organisations.

Xi pledged that China will do its utmost to assist Việt Nam in hosting the APEC Summit 2017, while the Vietnamese side affirmed support for China in organising an international co-operation summit on “One Belt, One Road” in 2017.

The two sides will urge ministries, sectors, localities and businesses to maintain bilateral trade growth in a more stable and balanced manner. China will work harder to boost trade ties and make them more balanced, vowed Xi, who also promised to create favourable conditions for Việt Nam to launch trade representative offices in Chinese localities.

He committed to encouraging Chinese firms to increase imports of Vietnamese agro-forestry-fisheries products, such as rice, cassava, dairy products and processed fruits and implement high technology and environmentally friendly projects in Việt Nam.

The two leaders concurred on the need to expand co-operation in science and technology, agriculture, environment, climate change response, while considering the extension of a hotline to receive complaints on problems in fishery activities at sea, and strengthening the co-ordination in managing, protecting and exploiting the Mekong-Lancang River and Red River-Yuan River water resources sustainably.

They also agreed to discuss the principles and specific contents of a master plan on the building of Việt Nam-China cross-border economic co-operation zones, so that the deal will be signed soon.

Việt Nam and China will enhance production capacity and strengthen the connection between the “Two Corridors, One Economic Belt” and "One Belt, One Road” initiatives to match the demand, benefit and development strategy of each country.

Sea Issue

The two Party leaders agreed that the East Sea issue is the major outstanding problem in Việt Nam-China relations and is very complicated and vital, hugely affecting political trust, people’s sentiments, the state of the two countries’ relations, as well as in the region and the world.

Party General Secretary Trọng asserted Việt Nam’s consistent stance of dealing with the dispute in the East Sea by peaceful measures in compliance with international law.

The leaders stressed the need to comply with the “agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues between Việt Nam and China”; optimise the negotiating mechanism to seek fundamental and long-lasting solutions acceptable to both sides; actively study transitional solutions that do not affect the respective country’s stance and policy.

They agreed to accelerate co-operation at sea with a view to generating positive signals beneficial to the two countries’ relations; follow up on the completion of the joint survey conducted in the waters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf, thus firmly pushing for negotiations on the delineation of the waters; step up the work of the working group in charge of discussing co-operation for mutual development at sea.

They affirmed that the two sides will manage their sea-related disagreements and take no actions to complicate and expand the disputes in order to protect peace and stability in the East Sea.

On behalf of the Party and State of Việt Nam, Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng invited Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to pay an official visit to Việt Nam and attend the APEC Summit 2017. President Xi accepted the invitation.

Earlier, the two leaders joined a cordial tea party at the Great Hall after witnessing the signing of cooperative documents between the two Parties and the two States. The tea party is an unprecedented gesture, expressing the Chinese leader’s respect, goodwill and wish to increase closeness and trust with Việt Nam’s top leader.

At the tea party, Party General Secretary Xi offered Party General Secretary Trọng tea produced in Fujian Province and told him about Zhejiang Province where he once worked. He also discussed China’s strategies, policies and several crucial development milestones. The two leaders also deliberated further measures to bolster friendship and co-operation.

Later in the day, the Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping hosted a banquet for Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation accompanying him. — VNS