The meeting was co-chaired by Vietnamese Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi. 
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi
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They said both Vietnam and China need to work harder to develop their friendship and comprehensive cooperation in a healthy and stable fashion, as it is in accordance with the two peoples’ wish and fundamental interests and benefits peace, stability and development in the region. They agreed to seriously implement the agreements reached and common perceptions shared between leaders of the countries’ Parties and States, especially those agreed during the China visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in April 2015 and the State visit to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in November that year.
The officials highlighted the progress in bilateral cooperation since the steering committee’s eighth meeting in June 2015. They concurred in working together to effectively carry out the two Parties’ cooperation plan for the 2016 – 2020 period, increase collaboration between their local Party organisations, and successfully hold people-to-people exchanges.
At the meeting, the two sides decided on cooperation priorities in order to boost ties between Vietnamese and Chinese ministries and localities, particularly in diplomacy, defence, security, and law enforcement. While the two neighbours will bolster economic, trade and investment partnerships in a stable, balanced and healthy manner, they will also expand connections in infrastructure building, finance – currency, agriculture, environment, transport, health care, science – technology, culture, education and tourism.
The localities along the Vietnam – China border will receive favourable conditions to strengthen win-win cooperation, the officials said. Basing on the outcomes of the recent conference reviewing the five-year implementation of the three Vietnam – China documents on land border management, both countries were unanimous in tightening management and security, while timely settling issues arising along their shared border, helping to ensure stable, healthy and sustainable economic links in border areas.
During the meeting, the officials stressed the need for seriously realising the agreements and common perceptions between their Party and State leaders, including the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues. Both Vietnam and China must well control disagreements, maximising negotiation mechanisms to attain substantive progress, strive to carry out agreed joint projects at sea, and discuss the establishment of a cooperation mechanism for search and rescue at sea. They should persistently use discussions and negotiations to seek basic and long-term solutions acceptable to both sides, the officials noted.
The two sides also mulled over other important matters such as refraining from acts that can complicate the situation or expanding disputes, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), working towards the early formulation of a code of conduct (COC) in the waters, and resolving disputes by peaceful measures in conformity with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
At the end of the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and State Councilor Yang Jiechi witnessed the signing of the event’s minutes, and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Vietnam Coast Guard and the China Coast Guard. Vietnam and China agreed to enhance political trust, maintain high-level visits and strive for new progress in their result-oriented cooperation.
