The 16th meeting of the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation Committee

The two sides said that the Vietnam-China relationship has achieved positive results, notably: high-level and all-level contacts have been strengthened, economic, trade, investment and tourism cooperation has grown positively...

According to the VNA correspondent in Beijing, on December 10, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Politburo member and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-chaired the 16th meeting of the Steering Committee for Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation.

Phiên họp lần thứ 16 Ủy ban hợp tác song phương Việt Nam-Trung Quốc

The 16th meeting of the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation Committee. (Photo: Cong Tuyen/VNA)

In a sincere, friendly, open and substantive atmosphere, the two sides expressed their delight at the comprehensive development of the cooperative relationship between the two Parties and the two countries of Vietnam and China since the 15th Session (in December 2023 in Hanoi) up to now; together in-depth exchanges and reached consensus on many measures to continue effectively implementing the common perception between the high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and the two countries, striving to bring the bilateral relationship into a new stage of development, increasingly effective and substantive.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son congratulated China on its great achievements in its comprehensive reform and opening-up, expressing his belief that under the leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with General Secretary and President Xi Jinping as the core, the Chinese people will successfully achieve the goal of “the second 100 years.”

The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam attach great importance to consolidating and developing a stable, healthy and sustainable relationship with China, considering this a consistent policy, an objective requirement, a strategic choice and a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification.

Mr. Wang Yi affirmed that China always considers Vietnam a priority direction in its neighborly diplomacy; sincerely wishes and believes that under the leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam headed by General Secretary To Lam, Vietnam will successfully complete the set goals, building Vietnam into a developed, high-income country with a socialist orientation in the new era.

The two sides said that the Vietnam-China relationship has achieved positive results in recent times, notably: high-level and all-level contacts have been strengthened, economic, trade, investment and tourism cooperation has grown positively; transport connectivity has made breakthrough progress, and local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges have taken place vigorously.

Regarding the direction and focus of exchanges and cooperation in the coming time, the two sides agreed to continue maintaining high-level exchanges; strengthen exchanges through the Party channel and between the Government, National Assembly, Vietnam Fatherland Front and relevant agencies of China; promote the overall coordination role of the Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation; promote exchange and cooperation mechanisms in the fields of diplomacy, defense, security and between levels, sectors, localities and people of the two countries; practically implement activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the Vietnam-China Humanitarian Exchange Year 2025; and strengthen coordination at multilateral forums.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son proposed to accelerate railway connections, prioritizing the implementation of three standard gauge railway lines Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong, Lang Son-Hanoi, Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong, restoring the international railway transport route between the two countries; creating favorable conditions for airline slots for Vietnamese airlines; safely operating the Ban Gioc-Detian Scenic Area; requesting China to continue opening its market for high-quality agricultural products of Vietnam, creating favorable conditions for Vietnam to open more Trade Promotion Offices in some Chinese localities.

The Deputy Prime Minister also proposed promoting high-quality Chinese investment in Vietnam; effectively implementing Chinese aid; strengthening cooperation in areas such as agriculture, environment, banking and finance, science and technology, culture, education and training, opening up new areas of cooperation and new growth drivers for bilateral relations.

Appreciating Vietnam's cooperation proposals, Mr. Wang Yi affirmed that China attaches importance to promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, is willing to expand the import of high-quality goods from Vietnam, expand cooperation in the field of electricity trading; coordinate to handle difficulties in a number of Chinese investment projects in Vietnam; encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Vietnam in accordance with the needs and strengths of both sides; propose that the two sides strengthen the connection of development strategies, cooperate to build stable supply chains and production chains in the region; promote cooperation areas to continue to progress more strongly, deeply and substantially; bring the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership to a new level, and make practical contributions to building a Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future of strategic significance.

The two sides had a frank discussion on maritime issues, agreeing to continue to seriously implement high-level common perceptions, better control and resolve disagreements, and maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son suggested that the two sides persistently take the Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of Vietnam-China maritime issues and international law as the foundation; put themselves in each other's position, respect each other's sovereignty and legitimate interests; continue to promote the role of maritime negotiation mechanisms, promote maritime cooperation to achieve substantive progress, properly handle maritime issues, including the issue of fishing vessels and fishermen in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the spirit of friendship as well as the good development momentum of the relations between the two Parties and the two countries; together with countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), promote negotiations and soon reach an effective and substantive text of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC).

On the occasion of the meeting, the two sides exchanged the Agreement between the two Governments on cooperation in building three standard gauge railway lines (Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong, Lang Son-Hanoi, Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong).

On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son and Mr. Wang Yi attended the ceremony to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Border Treaty and the 15th anniversary of the signing of three legal documents on the Vietnam-China land border and visited the photo exhibition on demarcation and marker planting and cooperation on the Vietnam-China land border.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son affirmed that the signing of the Vietnam-China Land Border Treaty and three legal documents is an event of great historical significance, opening a new page in the relationship between the two countries, making an important contribution to affirming the general principles of international law.

Since implementing management according to three legal documents, the situation on the Vietnam-China land border has been basically stable; the system of border lines and border markers has been maintained; social order and security in the border area has been ensured; the work of opening and upgrading border gates, connecting traffic, implementing initiatives to promote development cooperation in the border area, etc. has been of interest to both sides.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son hopes that in the coming time, the border management agencies of the two countries will continue to closely coordinate, promote infrastructure connectivity, cross-border traffic, especially railway routes connecting the two countries, turning the Vietnam-China land border into a bridge between China and ASEAN countries.

For his part, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi affirmed that 2025 is the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the year of China-Vietnam humanities exchanges. Therefore, the two countries need to thoroughly implement the important common understanding revolving around the overall goal of "6 more" achieved by the leaders of the two Parties and countries, promote the building of a Community of Shared Future in depth and substance, bringing new era connotations to the comprehensive strategic cooperative relationship between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that China and Vietnam will work together to build a clear, stable border, prosperous development, and good development for generations to come. In the spirit of neighborly friendship and frankness, he suggested that both sides continue to seek measures acceptable to both sides to resolve maritime issues through bilateral dialogue and consultation.

Previously, on December 8, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu and Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Sun Weidong held a meeting between the two Secretaries General to prepare for the Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee Meeting.

On December 9, the two sides held the first session of the Deputy Ministerial-level Dialogue between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Defense, and Public Security within the framework of the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee.

At the Dialogue, the two sides discussed in depth the international and regional situation; agreed to maintain regular strategic exchanges, strengthen cooperation in the fields of diplomacy, defense and security; promote "closer security-defense cooperation" on the basis of conformity with each country's foreign policy, defense policy and security policy, making practical contributions to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

According to Vietnamplus.vn

https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phien-hop-lan-thu-16-uy-ban-hop-tac-song-phuong-viet-nam-trung-quoc-post1000177.vnp

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/phien-hop-lan-thu-16-uy-ban-hop-tac-song-phuong-viet-nam-trung-quoc-208387.html