Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (left) held talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on April 26 as the Vietnamese Government leader is visiting China to attend the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

BEIJING — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on April 26 held talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on the occasion of the Vietnamese Government leader’s trip to China to attend the ongoing second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

PM Phúc appreciated active cooperation across fields between the two countries’ ministries, sectors and localities in recent times, affirming that Việt Nam attaches importance to the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China and wishes to promote bilateral relations in a stable and sustainable manner.

He expressed his support for China to uphold its increasing important role for peace, stability and development of the region and the world, saying that he applauds and supports the implementation of the “Belt and Road” initiative (BRI).

PM Phúc suggested the two sides maintain high-ranking exchanges and meetings, enhance political trust, and improve practical and effective cooperation in all fields.

He valued China’s effort to open its market for Việt Nam’s dairy products and mangosteen, asking the Chinese side to open the door for other Vietnamese farm produce, especially pork and swallow nests, as well as facilitate rice trade between the two nations.

PM Phúc applauded China’s implementation of projects using modern and environmentally friendly technologies in Việt Nam, while asking for coordination from the Chinese side to handle a number of problems related to payment procedures, capital increase, slow construction progress, and low efficiency, in cooperation projects between the two parties; and give suitable take-off and landing times for Việt Nam’s airlines.

The two sides need to accelerate the signing of the agreement to connect the railway route between Lào Cai Province of Việt Nam and Hekhou of China, and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Chinese firms to effectively join the Chongqing-Singapore transport route, he said.

The Vietnamese leader also underlined the necessity for the two sides to boost and improve the efficiency of cooperation in the spheres of agriculture, culture, education, tourism, environmental protection and climate change adaptation, sustainable use of Mekong river water, and nuclear safety monitoring; implement the three documents relating to the land border between the two countries; and enhance coordination at regional and international forums.

Regarding the issues at sea, PM Phúc proposed to strictly implement the common perception of the high-ranking leaders, “Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues”, control differences, and undertake no actions to complicate the situation and increase disputes; promote negotiation mechanisms relating to the sea to achieve real progress; and achieve progress in the demarcation of waters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf in 2020.

He also asked for efforts from the two sides for handling fisheries and fishing-related issues in a humanitarian spirit; signing the Việt Nam-China search and rescue cooperation agreement and extending the bilateral agreement on the sea fishing hotline; fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and promote substantive negotiations towards an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with the international law, to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.

For his part, Chinese Premier Li said China attaches importance to developing relations with Việt Nam and seeks to follow the guidelines of good neighbourliness, friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term stability with Việt Nam.

Agreeing with major directions and measures proposed by PM Phúc, Li said China does not pursue a trade surplus with Việt Nam but encourages Chinese enterprises to strengthen trade cooperation and expand investment in the country.

China will join Việt Nam’s efforts to control the differences in order to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, he said.

After the talks, PM Phúc and Premier Li witnessed the exchange ceremony of the three documents on economic and technological cooperation, veterinary and public health requirements for Vietnamese dairy products exported to China, and cultural and tourism cooperation between the two countries.

On the occasion of PM Phúc’s attendance at the Belt and Road Forum, the two countries’ ministries and sectors signed cooperation agreements on tourism, customs and agriculture. — VNS