On December 10, at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Beijing, China, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, together with 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.
According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son proposed to accelerate railway connections, prioritizing the implementation of three standard gauge railway routes 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 (Vietnam) - Detian (China) 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 to promote high-quality Chinese investment in Vietnam; effectively deploy Chinese aid; Strengthen cooperation in areas such as agriculture, environment, finance and banking, 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, making practical contributions to building the 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 maritime issues between Vietnam and China 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 substantive progress in maritime cooperation, properly handle maritime issues, including those 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 relationship between the two Parties and the two countries; and work with ASEAN countries to promote negotiations and soon reach an effective and substantive COC document.
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 Vietnam - China Land Border Demarcation and Marker Planting and Cooperation Exhibition.
