Government-level agreement signed with China to build 3 railway lines

Trao thỏa thuận cấp chính phủ hợp tác với Trung Quốc xây 3 tuyến đường sắt - Ảnh 1. — *Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son and Mr. Wang Yi in Beijing on December 10 – Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs*

The signing of the agreement between the two governments took place at the 16th meeting of the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse (China).

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-chaired the meeting.

At the meeting, Mr. Wang Yi believed that under the leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam headed by General Secretary To Lam, Vietnam will become a developed, high-income country with a socialist orientation in the new era.

Mr. Bui Thanh Son proposed to speed up railway connections, prioritizing the implementation of three standard gauge railway lines including Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong, Lang Son - Hanoi, Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong, and restoring the international railway transport route between the two countries.

He also proposed creating favorable conditions for airline slots for Vietnamese airlines; safely operating the Ban Gioc - Duc Thien landscape area.

Propose that China continue to open its market for high-quality agricultural products of Vietnam, creating favorable conditions for Vietnam to open more trade promotion offices in some localities of China.

Trao thỏa thuận cấp chính phủ hợp tác với Trung Quốc xây 3 tuyến đường sắt - Ảnh 2. — *Delegates attending the 16th meeting of the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee on December 10 – Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs*

The Deputy Prime Minister also proposed promoting high-quality Chinese investment in Vietnam and effectively implementing Chinese aid. In addition, strengthening cooperation in areas such as agriculture, environment, banking and finance, science and technology, culture, education and training, etc.

Appreciating Vietnam's cooperation proposals, Mr. Wang Yi affirmed that China is ready to coordinate to handle difficulties in some of its investment projects in Vietnam; encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Vietnam in accordance with the needs and strengths of both sides.

Stating the need for both sides to strengthen strategic development connections, Mr. Wang Yi also proposed cooperation in building stable supply chains and production chains in the region; promoting areas of cooperation to continue to progress more strongly, deeply and substantially.

Regarding maritime issues, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two sides had frank discussions and agreed 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 both sides persistently take the Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues between Vietnam and China and international law as the foundation, while at the same time putting themselves in each other's position and respecting each other's sovereignty and legitimate interests.

In addition, it is necessary to continue promoting the role of maritime negotiation mechanisms, promoting substantive progress in maritime cooperation, and properly handling maritime issues, including those of fishing vessels and fishermen, in accordance with international law and the spirit of friendship as well as the good development momentum of bilateral relations.

On the occasion of the meeting, the two sides exchanged agreements 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.