Log in
News

Vietnam, China top diplomats meet for maritime, trade issues

Pham and Wang all agreed that the two countries need to closely implement the consensus reached by top leaders in solving maritime issues.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh has talked with Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi about further cooperation for stability in the South China Sea, to which Vietnam refers as the East Sea, and measures to narrow the trade gap Vietnam incurs with the northern neighbor.
 
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met his Chinese counterpart at the 4th LMC. Photo: VNS
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met his Chinese counterpart at the 4th LMC meeting. Photo: VNA
The two top diplomats met at the 4th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting taking place on Dec 16-17 in Laos. 

Pham and Wang all agreed that the two countries need to closely implement the consensus reached by the two countries' top leaders in solving maritime issues on the basis of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982. 

All measures must aim to respect each other’s legitimate interests, keep disputes under the control, and security in the sea, they noted. 

According to the diplomats, the 12th meeting of the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation Committee will be held in China next year.  

At the meeting, Pham expected that China would make a number of policies to reduce Vietnam’s trade deficit by diversifying items to be imported from Vietnam and boosting the import of fruit, seafood, pork, and dairy products. 

Vietnam incurred a trade deficit of US$22.7 billion out the two-way trade worth US$120 billion in 2017. 

Mekong-Lan Cang Cooperation expected to support mutual interests 

The LMC framework was created in 2015 to promote Mekong cooperation at a sub-regional level, comprising of six countries along the Mekong River.

Originating from China’s Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the river is called Lancang in China and Mekong in its downstream, and flows through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, measuring 4,880 kilometers in length, draining an area of 795,000 square kilometers, and feeding altogether 326 million people.

LMC is said to bolster economic and social development of the sub-regional countries, enhancing the wellbeing of their people, narrowing the development gap among regional countries and supporting ASEAN Community building. 

But a number of regional experts said that the LMC is designed to overshadow other existing frameworks such as the US-sponsored Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) and the Japan’s ADB-led Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), and to be an alternative to the lower riparian countries’ Mekong River Commission (MRC).
Reactions:
Share:
Trending
Most Viewed
Promoting Hanoi’s rich heritage at VITM Hanoi 2025

Promoting Hanoi’s rich heritage at VITM Hanoi 2025

The Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2025 is set to be a remarkable event, offering a great opportunity to spotlight Hanoi’s vibrant tourism and its rich cultural heritage. 

Vietnam to host largest-ever green growth summit in 2025

Vietnam to host largest-ever green growth summit in 2025

The Summit, scheduled for April 14-17 and themed "Sustainable and People-Centered Green Transition," is expected to gather leaders from P4G member countries and beyond.

Vietnam news in brief - April 8

Vietnam news in brief - April 8

Follow The Hanoi Times for the latest news.

Vietnam news in brief - April 5

Vietnam news in brief - April 5

The Hanoi Times always update the latest news

Vietnam news in brief - April 4

Vietnam news in brief - April 4

Vietnam news in brief - April 3

Vietnam news in brief - April 3

Vietnam news in brief - April 2

Vietnam news in brief - April 2

Update the latest information in Vietnam with The Hanoi Times

Belgian royal couple enjoys Hanoi's egg coffee 

Belgian royal couple enjoys Hanoi's egg coffee 

THE HANOI TIMES — King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium indulged in one of Hanoi's most iconic culinary experiences during their stay in the city - a creamy egg coffee at the Hidden Gem Café, a charming cafe themed on recycled materials in the Old Quarter.