Developing Viet Nam-China relations is strategic choice: Prime Minister

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made the above statement at his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Nanning, Guangxi province on Saturday.

Premier Li affirmed China always considers its relations with Viet Nam a priority in its neighborhood diplimacy, and stands ready to work with Viet Nam to further expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in a substantial manner.

Premier Li also spoke highy of Viet Nam's acive and effective participation in and its important contributions to the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS).

The pair agreed to continue effective implementation of the common perceptions reahed by the two countries' party leaders to further strengthen and deepen the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership as well as the agreements and outcomes agreed during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to China last June and other high-level visits.

Both sides agreed to step up contacts and visits, promote substantial cooperation in economy, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges, maintain coordination and collaboration within multilateral mechanisms and forums, well manage land borders and properly control divergences, and work together to maintain peace and stability at sea.

Prime Minister Pham asked the Chinese side to speed up market openng for Viet Nam's agricultural and aquatic products, facilitate the establishment of  Viet Nam's trade promotion office in Chengdu (Sichuan) and Haikou (Hainan), and coordinate in improving the efficiency of custum clearance of goods at border gates.

He pledged to create favorable conditions for Chinese enterprises to invest in Viet Nam, especially large-scale, high-quality, and high-tech projects, bringing about economic and social benefits.

Pham suggested both countries should enhance transport and bordergate infrastructure connectivity, study possible cooperation in planning and construction of railway lines in Northern Viet Nam, and enhance cargo transportation capacity between the two countries and through third countries.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister also suggested the two countries work together to promote tourism recovery to pre-pandemic levels, and coordinate in resolving lingering issues in several projects, while accelerating the implementation of China's non-refundable aid for Viet Nam.

The two Prime Ministers exchanged views on the East Sea issue in a sincere and frank manner and they agreed on the importance of satisfactorily settling differences, and maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea.

Prime Minister Pham asked the two countries to continue serious implementation of the high-level common perceptions and the Agreement on the basic principles guiding the implementation of maritime issues between Viet Nam and China; respect each other's legitimate rights and interests; settle disputes and differences through peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The two Prime Ministers agreed to foster collaboration and cooperation at regional and international forums.

Premier Li took the occasion to express his profound condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in a tragic fire in an apartment block in Ha Noi on September 12./.