Deputy Prime Minister of Việt Nam Trương Hòa Bình (L) meets with Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli in Nanning city, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Lê Trung Kiên

NANNING – Deputy Prime Minister of Việt Nam Trương Hòa Bình held a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli in Nanning city, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, yesterday. 

Deputy PM Bình was in Nanning to visit the Guangxi region and attend the 14th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) at the invitation of the Chinese Government. 
Hailing recent strides in the two countries’ bilateral relations, Deputy PM Bình affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and Government attach importance to the enhancement of co-operation and friendship with China and consider this as one of the top priorities in Việt Nam’s foreign policy. 
He asked both sides to continue effectively implementing the important common perceptions the two countries’ leaders have reached and coordinate to prepare for high-level visits and meetings, especially a State visit to Việt Nam and attendance at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting by General Secretary and President Xi Jinping later this year. 
Việt Nam and China should promote substantive progress in all spheres of co-operation, promptly tackle difficulties and further improve the quality of co-operation in economy-trade, investment and finance. They also need to expand ties in agriculture, nuclear safety, environmental protection, water resources management, climate change response and railway transport connectivity, he noted. 
Regarding sea-related issues, the Deputy PM requested both sides comply with the agreements and the important common perceptions reached by leaders of the two Parties and countries. Accordingly, they need to maintain control of sea-related disagreements, not complicate the situation, seriously carry out the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues, fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and promote sea-related negotiation mechanisms to soon reach substantive progress. 
He highly valued ASEAN and China’s approval of a framework for a code of conduct of parties in the East Sea (COC), adding that early finalisation of the COC will help maintain peace, security and stability in the region. 
At the meeting, Vice Premier Zhang stressed the Vietnamese delegation’s participation in the 14th CAEXPO and the CABIS shows that the Vietnamese Government treasures the two countries’ relations as well as China-ASEAN co-operation, and it will greatly contribute to the expo’s success. 
He affirmed that the Chinese Party and Government attach importance to bilateral ties and together with Việt Nam will maintain high-level meetings, intensify political trust, bolster substantive co-operation, increase people-to-people exchanges and strengthen the traditional friendship. 
China will also join Việt Nam in controlling disagreements and stepping up the stable, healthy and sustainable development of the countries’ comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, he noted. 
Also yesterday, Deputy PM Bình and the Vietnamese Government attended the opening ceremony for Việt Nam’s national pavilion and pavilion of trade at the 14th CAEXPO. 
More than 120 companies from Việt Nam will present 250 booths covering 5,000sq.m of ground at the expo. The main products on display include agricultural products, processed food, footwear, consumer goods, household appliances, wood products and handicrafts. — VNS