Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính during the phone call with the premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Keqiang. - VNA Photo

HÀ NỘI - Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính had a phone call with the premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Keqiang on Friday to discuss socio-economic co-operation and measures to boost relations between the two neighbours. 

Chính said Việt Nam held the time-honoured friendship and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries in high regard, adding that a harmonious and productive relationship Việt Nam-China relationship would benefit regional peace, stability and development. 

The PM congratulated the Communist Party of China on the upcoming 100th anniversary of its founding.

The two leaders agreed to continue to bolster ties with frequent exchanges and visits of officials, increased two-way commercial activities and investment, and to share experience in the fight against COVID-19 under the leadership of Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping.

Areas the two countries must work on to improve bilateral ties include measures to reduce Việt Nam's trade deficit with China, to boost Việt Nam's export of agricultural and aquatic produce, especially seasonal fruits, to maintain and strengthen the supply and production chain between the two sides, to speed up infrastructure products under Chinese firms in Việt Nam such as the Cát Linh-Hà Đông urban railway project in Hà Nội and to support Việt Nam's COVID-19 vaccine programme. 

The two leaders agreed on the importance of matters related to fishing in the Gulf of Tonkin and the need to establish a hotline between the two countries.

Chính said Việt Nam was committed to peaceful resolutions and the rule of laws set out in the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve potential conflicts and Việt Nam, as part of ASEAN, was pursuing the development of a Code of Conduct for all involved parties in the East Sea. 

Premier Li said China held in high regard the two neighbours' ties and hoped to see the relationship improve, delivering prosperity to people in both countries. He said China was willing to support Việt Nam in its fight against the spread of COVID-19 and was looking forward to working with ASEAN on a  Code of Conduct for the East Sea. - VNS