China prioritizes Vietnam in its neighboring foreign policy

During his attendance at the 15th Annual Pioneers Meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Dalian (Dalian WEF Conference) and working in China, on the afternoon of June 24, in Dalian City, Liaoning Province (China), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had talks with Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Qiang.

In a friendly, sincere and open atmosphere, Prime Minister Li Qiang welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh leading the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Government to attend the WEF Dalian Conference and work in China; conveyed the warm regards of General Secretary, President Xi Jinping and other high-ranking Chinese leaders to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President To Lam, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien and other leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh respectfully conveyed the greetings and best wishes of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President To Lam, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien and other senior Vietnamese leaders to General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and other senior Chinese leaders; expressed his pleasure at attending the WEF Dalian Conference at the invitation of the Chinese Government and the Conference Organizing Committee; and believed that with the role of host China and the support of countries and international organizations, this year's conference will be a great success, creating a driving force to lead and promote economic recovery and growth in the region and the world.

At the talks, the two Prime Ministers informed each other about the situation of each Party and each country; in-depth and comprehensive exchange of opinions on the recent relations between the two Parties and countries and reached a broad common understanding on concretizing the achievements and high-level common understandings during the historic visits of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in 2022 and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in 2023, promoting the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and the Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future with strategic significance to achieve more substantive, effective and practical achievements, towards the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated China on its development achievements and believed that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China with General Secretary and President Xi Jinping as the core, and with the effective management of the State Council of China, headed by Premier Li Qiang, the Chinese people will successfully achieve the goals and tasks set forth by the 20th National Congress, building China into a modern, prosperous, democratic, civilized, harmonious, and beautiful socialist country.

Prime Minister Li Qiang congratulated Vietnam on its important achievements in socio-economic development; affirmed that China supports Vietnam in developing an independent and self-reliant economy associated with deep and effective international integration; and believes in and wishes Vietnam to successfully implement the goals and tasks set by the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Reviewing the achievements of cooperation in recent times, the two Prime Ministers agreed that the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries has made historic progress, reaping many achievements with many outstanding highlights: political trust has been consolidated; many new cooperation mechanisms in important fields have been established; strategic connectivity, especially transport connectivity, has been accelerated; trade cooperation has grown strongly; Chinese investment in Vietnam has increased sharply; tourism has recovered strongly; cooperation between localities and people-to-people exchanges have taken place vigorously...

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam considers developing relations with China an objective requirement, a strategic choice and a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of international relations.

Prime Minister Li Qiang stressed that China always considers Vietnam a priority in its overall neighborly diplomacy; supports Vietnam in successfully carrying out the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country and enhancing its international role.

The two sides agreed to promote the effective implementation of the Vietnam-China Joint Statement on further deepening and enhancing the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, building a Vietnam-China Community of Shared Future of strategic significance in the direction of “6 more”; maintain high-level and all-level exchanges and contacts, promote exchanges and cooperation between the Party channels, between the two governments, the National Assembly/National People's Congress, the Vietnam Fatherland Front/CPPCC of the two countries; expand cooperation in key areas such as diplomacy, defense, and security; enhance substantive cooperation in various fields and friendly exchanges between localities and people's organizations; build a peaceful, stable, cooperative and developing land border; control disagreements well, maintain peace and stability at sea; strengthen coordination in international and regional forums.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the two sides need to constantly innovate their thinking, create creative measures, and be determined to effectively implement common perceptions and high-level agreements; promote strategic connectivity; propose that the two sides accelerate transport infrastructure connectivity, especially research and promote the construction of standard gauge railways Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong, Lang Son-Hanoi and Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong at an appropriate time; soon sign the Protocol, complete market opening procedures for frozen durian and fresh coconut from Vietnam; speed up the market opening process for other agricultural and aquatic products, citrus fruits, avocados, custard-apples, rose apples, passion fruit, livestock and poultry; create conditions for the early establishment of Vietnam Trade Promotion Offices in Chengdu (Sichuan), Haikou (Hainan), Nanjing (Jiangsu); exchange measures to improve customs clearance efficiency, upgrade border gate infrastructure, research and promote the construction of smart border gates; Coordinate to thoroughly resolve difficulties in a number of cooperation projects, speed up the implementation of China's non-refundable aid to Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that the two sides strengthen cooperation in the fields of agriculture, finance and banking, science and technology, education, culture and tourism, focusing on digital transformation, green growth and high-tech agriculture; develop plans and roadmaps for the official operation of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Scenic Area (Vietnam) - Detian (China); and request China to soon provide 1,000 scholarships for Vietnamese Chinese teachers.
Appreciating and agreeing with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's cooperation proposals, Prime Minister Li Qiang affirmed his readiness to deepen substantive cooperation with Vietnam, promoting the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership to develop in the direction of "6 more"; stating that China will further open its market to Vietnamese goods, especially high-quality agricultural, aquatic and fruit products from Vietnam, coordinate to create favorable conditions for quarantine and customs clearance of goods, and is ready to coordinate to promote the resolution of institutional and 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 infrastructure and transportation; promote economic-trade and investment cooperation, especially in the fields of production, manufacturing, agriculture, and cooperation in maintaining supply chains and production chains; vocational training; expand financial and monetary cooperation; and make substantive cooperation between the two countries increasingly effective, substantial, and commensurate with the new level of relations between the two Parties and the two countries.

The two sides had a sincere and frank exchange of opinions on maritime issues, agreeing to affirm the importance of properly controlling disagreements and maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that both sides strictly implement the high-level common perception and the “Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of Vietnam-China maritime issues;” respect international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), respect each other’s legitimate rights and interests; effectively promote negotiation mechanisms on maritime issues; properly handle the issue of fishing vessels and fishermen; and effectively control the situation at sea.

The two Prime Ministers also discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern, agreeing to maintain coordination and cooperation at regional and international forums.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed the consistent policy of upholding the “One China” policy, supporting China to promote its increasingly important and active role in the region and the world; and suggested that the two sides strengthen coordination and cooperation at regional and international forums, especially within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).