Value relationships
On the morning of October 13, after a solemn welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang - VNA reported.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to consolidating and developing friendly and cooperative relations with China, considering this a consistent policy, an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy.
Prime Minister Li Qiang stressed that China highly values its relationship with Vietnam and always considers Vietnam a priority in China's neighborly diplomacy.
The two Prime Ministers expressed their delight at the important and encouraging results in the friendship and cooperation between the two countries in recent times. In particular, political trust has been strengthened, exchanges and contacts at high and all levels have taken place closely. Strategic connections, especially transport connections, have been accelerated. Substantive cooperation in all fields has achieved results with bilateral trade turnover increasing by 21.9% in the first 9 months of 2024.
At the talks, the two Prime Ministers officially announced the official operation of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Scenic Area (Vietnam) - Detian (China) from October 15, 2024.
Cooperation in developing modern railway industry
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that the two sides coordinate to effectively implement signed documents on railway cooperation, cooperate in developing the modern railway industry, provide preferential loans, transfer technology, and support Vietnam in training human resources to deploy three standard gauge railway routes connecting northern localities of Vietnam with China, including: Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong, Lang Son - Hanoi, Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong.
Regarding investment cooperation, the Prime Minister suggested that the two sides cooperate to implement large-scale, high-tech projects that are symbolic of bilateral relations in areas where China has strengths and Vietnam has needs, such as renewable energy, supporting industries, electric cars, international financial centers, free trade zones, smart cities, digital economy, green economy, and circular economy.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also suggested that the two sides increase the sharing of meteorological, hydrological and water resource data on trans-border rivers; and cooperate in the management and sustainable and effective use of water resources of the Mekong - Lancang River.
China opens its doors further to Vietnamese goods
Prime Minister Li Qiang affirmed his readiness to work with Vietnam to strengthen the political foundation, deepen substantive cooperation, continue to further open the market for Vietnamese goods, especially high-quality agricultural, aquatic and fruit products, coordinate to create favorable conditions for quarantine and customs clearance of goods, and stand ready to coordinate to promote the resolution of policy problems, so that the trade relations between the two countries continue to grow sustainably and achieve new results.
Prime Minister Li Qiang suggested that the two sides strengthen strategic connectivity, especially in transport infrastructure; promote economic, trade and investment cooperation, especially in the fields of production, manufacturing, agriculture, and maintain supply chains and production chains; provide vocational training; expand financial and monetary cooperation; and make practical cooperation between the two countries increasingly effective and substantive.
Do not let the East Sea issue affect political trust
The two sides exchanged sincere and frank opinions on maritime issues, agreed to continue to strictly implement the high-level common perception, the “Agreement on the basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues between Vietnam and China”, properly control disagreements, actively seek fundamental and long-term solutions acceptable to both sides in accordance with the “Agreement on the basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues between Vietnam and China”, international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, take no action to complicate the situation, and jointly maintain stability at sea; effectively implement negotiation mechanisms on maritime issues, actively carry out cooperation in less sensitive areas and search and rescue cooperation at sea.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that both sides respect each other's legitimate and legal rights and interests, resolve disputes and disagreements by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS 1982; properly handle the issue of fishing vessels and fishermen in accordance with the friendly relations between the two countries, and not let the East Sea issue affect political trust between the two sides and hurt the feelings and trust of the people of the two countries.
