President Tran Dai Quang holds talks with Chinese President

This afternoon, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, President Tran Dai Quang held talks with General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping.

General Secretary and President of China emphasized that President Tran Dai Quang's first visit to China as President of Vietnam is of great significance, contributing to promoting and deepening the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Talks between the two heads of state of Vietnam and China. Photo: Reuters

Chinese President to visit Vietnam

Mr. Xi Jinping affirmed that the Party, State and people of China highly value the friendly and cooperative relationship with Vietnam; wish and are ready to make efforts with the Party, State and people of Vietnam to continue strengthening the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries, bringing the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to develop healthily and stably.

He expressed his pleasure at paying a state visit to Vietnam and attending the APEC Summit 2017 held in Da Nang, and affirmed his support for Vietnam to successfully organize this Summit.

President Tran Dai Quang emphasized that strengthening and enhancing the Vietnam-China friendly and cooperative relationship to continuously develop healthily, stably and increasingly well is an objective need, in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of the people of the two countries, and beneficial to peace, stability and development of the region and the world.

The President affirmed the consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam to always attach importance to and sincerely wish to develop friendly neighborly relations and comprehensive cooperation with the Party and State of China. This is a strategic choice and a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy.

The two leaders agreed to continue to maintain regular high-level exchanges and contacts between the leaders of the two Parties and the two countries to provide strategic orientations and instructions to promote cooperation in all areas, promptly discuss and resolve arising issues, maintain the friendly situation and the healthy and stable development momentum for Vietnam-China relations.

The two leaders agreed to promote and create positive changes, improve the quality and effectiveness of economic cooperation and other fields to create a solid foundation for developing the Vietnam-China friendship; actively discuss and sign the "General Plan on building a cross-border economic cooperation zone" according to the principles of equality, mutual benefit, respect for independence, sovereignty and compliance with the laws of each side.

Vietnam's consistent stance on the East Sea

President Tran Dai Quang suggested that China apply effective measures to gradually reduce Vietnam's trade deficit, especially increasing the import of agricultural products related to the practical interests of Vietnamese farmers; propose to promote cooperation in the fields of agriculture, environment, science and technology, response to climate change, support Vietnam in breeding rice varieties suitable for drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta; soon discuss and sign an extension of the Agreement on the hotline for unexpected incidents arising in fishing activities at sea; strengthen cooperation in the sustainable use of Mekong - Lancang water resources; respond to challenges related to water security, environmental protection, nuclear safety, etc.

Regarding maritime issues, the President affirmed Vietnam's consistent stance of persistently resolving disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, respecting diplomatic and legal processes; and requested that both sides seriously implement common perceptions, signed agreements and commitments, especially the Agreement on basic principles guiding the resolution of maritime issues.

Control disagreements well, do not take actions that complicate and expand disputes; properly handle fisheries issues and fishermen's activities; promote negotiation mechanisms at sea to soon have substantial progress; strengthen cooperation in less sensitive areas at sea; fully and effectively implement the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and strive with ASEAN to complete the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in 2017 on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the signing of the DOC.

At the end of the talks, President Tran Dai Quang and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of five cooperation documents.

That same evening, at the Great Hall of the People, General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and his wife hosted a solemn reception to welcome President Tran Dai Quang, his wife and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on a state visit to China.

According to VNN