Vietnam aspires to reinforce comprehensive strategic partnership with China

Deputy PM and FM Son held a meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing on December 10 as part of his visit to China to co-chair the 16th Vietnam - China Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee Meeting.

The meeting saw the Vietnamese Deputy PM convey greetings from senior Vietnamese leaders to their Chinese counterparts and acknowledged the positive development trend of bilateral relations, as well as important results of the co-operation between the two Parties and countries over recent times.

The Deputy PM suggested both sides work to intensify the exchange of all-level delegations whilst stepping up collaboration efforts across multiple aspects, particularly in connecting development strategies, transport infrastructure; as well as partnerships in economy-trade, investment, culture, education, and tourism.

He underlined the need to speed up the project on building three standard-gauge railway routes linking the nation with the northern neighbour, Chinese opening the door to Vietnamese goods, and prestigious Chinese firms' investment in high-quality, advanced technology projects.

Deputy PM Son also asked the two sides to boost ties in a bid to launch a string of activities marking the 75th anniversary of joint diplomatic ties and the Year of Vietnam - China Humanistic Exchange in 2025.

He therefore urged the two sides to seriously carry out agreements and high-level common perceptions on sea-related issues and increase common points whilst narrowing gaps in viewpoints. This is along with respecting each other’s legal and legitimate rights and interests in line with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, in order to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.

In reply, VP Zheng outlined the importance the Chinese side places on its comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership with Vietnam, as well as the China-Vietnam community which has a shared future that carries strategic significance, a priority in the Chinese policy of neighbourhood diplomacy.

He noted his appreciation for the Vietnamese diplomat’s proposals, affirming his nation’s readiness to maintain strategic discussions at all levels and to bolster result-oriented co-operation in a multitude of fields.

He voiced support for enhancing transport infrastructure connectivity, augmenting linkages in tourism, education-training, striving for new records in trade relations, and promoting multilateral collaboration. China also backs the Vietnamese side’s successful organization of the 14th National Party Congress and hosting of the APEC Year 2027, he added.

Zheng therefore proposed that the two sides work to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and to better control and settle disputes occurring at sea to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, co-operation, and development in the region and around world.

Regarding orientations for bilateral ties moving forward, both host and guest consented to direct their agencies and localities in order to actively implement high-level agreements and common perceptions, helping to deepen the comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership and the shared community with a joint future which carries strategic significance.