Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh (r) meets with State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi was in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh has asked China to make it easier for Việt Nam to export its advantageous goods to the Chinese market and develop bilateral trade in a balanced and healthy manner. He also requested help in the effective implementation of China’s aid packages for Việt Nam.

State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi was in Hà Nội for an official visit to Việt Nam and attended the 6th Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit (GMS-6) from March 29-31. Speaking after their talks on Sunday, Minh urged the two sides to strengthen win-win co-operation in the fields of agriculture, environment, climate change response, science-technology, finance, transport and economics, thus enhancing mutual economic trust between the two sides.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM congratulated China on the successful organisation of the first annual sessions of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) to elect new leaders for the new tenure. 

The Vietnamese State and Government attach great importance to and want to further develop the comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership with China, Minh said. 

The two sides pledged to push forward the implementation of cooperation agreements reached by their leaders, while actively supporting the settlement of existing and emerging problems, thus maintaining the stable development of bilateral relations.

Minh suggested measures to promote the important role of the steering committee for Việt Nam-China bilateral co-operation in co-ordinating collaborative activities between the two countries’ ministries, departments and localities. He said the two foreign ministries should enhance co-ordination to beef up Việt Nam-China co-operation. 
The host expressed his concerns over potential factors that can intensify tension and instability at sea, stating that the legitimate rights and interests of Việt Nam should be respected in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982. 

He proposed the two sides seriously implement the common perceptions reached by their leaders and the Việt Nam-China agreement on fundamental principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues, while persistently resolving disputes in the East Sea via peaceful means and in line with international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS. 

Việt Nam and China should step up efforts to reach new progress in the government-level negotiations on territory and borders and talks of the three working groups on the sea area off the Gulf of Tonkin, he said. 

He proposed the two sides co-operate in less sensitive fields at sea and discuss partnerships for mutual development at sea, while implementing fully and effectively the Declaration on the Conducts of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), actively working with ASEAN member countries to build a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea and controlling maritime disputes without taking any actions to complicate the situation, thus maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea. 

FM Wang Yi congratulated Việt Nam on successfully organising the GMS-6 Summit, which makes significant contributions to promoting co-operation between GMS countries and increasing the position of Việt Nam in the international arena. 

He affirmed that the Chinese Party and Government pay great attention to reinforcing and developing the comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership with Việt Nam. 

China was willing to work with Việt Nam to increase strategic exchanges and political trust as well as deepen co-operation for mutual benefits and address disputes in a proper manner for the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, bringing practical benefits for both countries and their people, thus contributing to regional peace, stability and prosperity. 

The two sides later met with the press to announce the outcomes of their talks.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Nguyễn Phú Trọng also received Wang Yi in Hà Nội yesterday. — VNA/VNS Lâm Khánh

Party leader hosts Wang Yi

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Nguyễn Phú Trọng also received Wang Yi in Hà Nội yesterday, voicing his hope that the official would contribute more to the countries’ comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership. 

Trọng congratulated China on the 2018 sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the People’s Political Consultative Conference (PPCC) and electing state and government leadership. He also congratulated Wang Yi on being appointed State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China. 

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State treasures sound co-operation with China, stressing that the two sides needed to enhance friendship, co-operation, mutual support and common development. 

The host leader asked both sides to adhere to the common perceptions between leaders of the two parties and countries and reached agreements. They also need to implement the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues, control disagreements well, take no actions to complicate the situation and together make efforts to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea. 

For his part, Wang Yi said he was happy to visit Việt Nam and attend the sixth Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit. He congratulated Việt Nam on successfully hosting the summit. 

He informed his host about the outcomes of his visit and the recent sessions of the NPC and the PPCC. 

He affirmed that the Chinese party, government and people attach special importance to the relationship with Việt Nam. He noted with satisfaction the new strides in all fields of bilateral ties, asking the two sides to continue increasing strategic exchanges and co-operation, control sea-related disagreements well and maintain the positive trend in the two parties and countries’ relations. — VNS