During talks between Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Vietnam and China have reached a consensus on further prompting their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new situation.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang
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PM Phuc asserted that Vietnam consistently pursues the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It gives priority to ties with neighbouring and major countries as well as important partners, actively and proactively integrates into the global economy, and joins regional and global cooperation mechanisms, particularly ASEAN and the United Nations.
The maintenance of traditional friendship and the stable, healthy and sustainable development of comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China for the sake of the two nations, the region and the world is a consistent policy, a strategic choice and top priority in the diplomatic policy of the Vietnamese Party and State, he said.
The PM proposed facilitating high-level visits and exchanges between Parties, legislatures, trade unions and people, extending partnerships across the fields of national defence-security, diplomacy and coordination at multilateral forums while encouraging collaboration between localities, enhancing border management in the mainland, and controlling disputes at sea to maintain maritime peace and stability.
The two neighbours need to increase experience sharing in environmental protection and climate change response, while effectively carrying out agreements reached at the ninth meeting of the China-Vietnam joint science-technology committee, he added.
During the talks
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In terms of sea-related issues, he underlined Vietnam’s consistent viewpoint of persistently resolving East Sea disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and respect diplomatic and legal processes. In the face of recent complex developments at sea, he asked both sides to seriously comply with the agreements and common perceptions reached by the two countries’ leaders, including the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues.
They need to respect each other’s legitimate interests which are in accordance with the UNCLOS, well control sea-related disagreements, and avoid actions that can complicate or expand disputes. It is necessary to promote negotiation mechanisms so as to soon attain substantive progress, satisfactorily address fishery-related issues, and continue fostering cooperation in search and rescue.
They should also join hands with ASEAN countries to comprehensively and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), as well as build and finalise a code of conduct in the waters (COC) in 2017 on the occasion of the 15 th anniversary of the DOC signing, the PM added.
For his part, the Chinese Premier said the visit, the first by a Vietnamese leader after the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the election of new deputies to the National Assembly, is of great significance to promote relations between the two Parties and States in the coming time.
He confirmed China attaches much importance to developing rapport with Vietnam and persistently follows the motto of friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation with a long-term stability with Vietnam. China will also work with Vietnam to control effectively maritime disputes and maintain the general relations between the two countries as well as peace and stability in the East Sea, he affirmed.
