Vietnam gives top priority to relations with China: PM

Updated: 17:48, 07/11/2024

Developing relations with China is a consistent policy, an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Chinese Premier Li Qiang at their talks in Kunming city in China’s Yunnan province on November 7.

The talks took place on the occasion of the Vietnamese Government leader’s attendance at the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

The host and guest highlighted remarkable achievements of each Party and country, especially in socio-economic development, along with the marked strides in the friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation.

PM Chinh lauded the GMS Summit’s success as well as China’s role in this regard, and sketched out major orientations for the Vietnam-China cooperation.

He said the two countries should continue to effectively implement common perceptions reached by their top leaders and maintain all-level meetings and exchanges to compare notes on the bilateral ties and issues of shared concern.

Building on the consensus on the content of the cooperation agreement for three railway lines, which is expected to be signed soon, the Vietnamese PM suggested the two sides accelerate collaboration in building the three standard-gauge railway routes of Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong, Lang Son - Hanoi, and Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong. He also called on China to provide assistance in terms of capital, technology transfer, and workforce training for these projects.

He said he hopes that China will continue to open its market to Vietnam's key agricultural products, and collaborate with Vietnam on establishing quarantine stations for Vietnamese farm produce at the Dong Dang - Pingxiang international railway border gate.

He also emphasised the importance of promoting cooperation in electricity trading; accelerating the implementation and gradual expansion of the smart border gate model to other border gate pairs; and soon organising exchanges between working groups on the cross-border economic cooperation zone model.

He suggested strengthening the social foundation of the bilateral relations and well implementing the "Year of Vietnam-China Humanistic Exchange" in 2025, considering this an good opportunity to boost people-to-people exchanges and friendship; and revive tourism to pre-Covid-19 levels or higher.

PM Chinh stressed that the two sides need to pay attention to well controlling maritime disagreements, not letting issues at sea affect the good friendship between the two countries.

For his part, Li highly valued Chinh’s working visit to Yunnan province and Chongqing city.

Regarding Vietnam's cooperation proposals, the Premier affirmed that the Chinese Party and Government always see relations with Vietnam as a priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy, stressing that China stands ready to maintain strategic exchanges with Vietnam, deepen practical cooperation, and further advance the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and the China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

He affirmed that China will further open its market to high-quality goods from Vietnam, including agricultural products; strengthen transport infrastructure connectivity with the Southeast Asian nation; promote cooperation in building and maintaining stable supply and production chains in the region; and support Vietnam in hosting APEC 2027.

In the witness of the two leaders, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Thanh Binh and Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Ma Zhaoxu exchanged diplomatic notes between the two foreign ministries regarding the establishment of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Chongqing.