President receives Chinese Foreign Minister

Wang is in Viet Nam to co-chair the 15th meeting of the Viet Nam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation.

At the reception, the Vietnamese State leader reiterated that the Party, State and people of Viet Nam always consider the relationship with China a strategic choice and a top priority in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification.

He suggested the two sides increase high-level exchanges and meetings, and effectively implement cooperation mechanisms between the two Parties, the two legislative bodies, as well as between the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Vo underlined the need to continue promoting the role of the Viet Nam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, strengthening collaboration in all spheres of diplomacy, defense, and security, improving the quality and effectiveness of cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, investment, and transportation, and boosting people-to-people exchange.

Regarding the East Sea issue, President Vo urged both sides to effectively implement high-level common perceptions, better control and address disagreements at sea, respect each other's legitimate interests in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thus jointly building the East Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

For his side, Wang asserted that the Party, Government and people of China attach great importance to the friendly neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation with the Party, State and people of Viet Nam, regarding this a priority direction in China's relations with neighboring countries.

China always advocates Viet Nam to successfully realize its industrialization and modernization strategy towards achieving the vision and development aspiration set by the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV), he said.

Wang agreed that the two sides should continue to implement high-level common perceptions, and specific cooperation measures put forth at the 15th Meeting of the China-Viet Nam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation.

Both nations should properly control and handle disagreements at sea, and ensure the healthy and stable development of the China-Viet Nam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries, he stated.

Earlier, Wang and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang co-chaired the 15th Meeting of the Viet Nam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation.

The same day, the Chinese top diplomat held talks with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son./.