Restore Vietnam-China relations to stable development

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh clearly stated Vietnam's viewpoint and stance on the East Sea issue, which always prioritizes peaceful measures to resolve disputes and disagreements with China.

At the meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in Hanoi this morning, the two sides said that the healthy and stable development of the Vietnam-China friendship is in line with the aspirations and fundamental interests of the people of the two countries, and is beneficial to peace, stability and development in the region.

"I am very pleased to meet Comrade Yang Jiechi again. First of all, on behalf of the members of the Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation on the Vietnamese side, I would like to warmly welcome Comrade Yang Jiechi and his Chinese comrades to visit and chair the 7th meeting of the Committee. The Committee plays a very important role in coordinating and directing cooperation between the two countries as well as resolving existing issues arising between the two countries.

Vietnam highly values ​​the visit of Comrade Yang Jiechi and his co-chairing of this meeting of the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee.

"Hopefully, with the joint efforts of both sides, the meeting will achieve many positive results, creating stronger momentum for the restoration and promotion of stable and healthy development of bilateral relations, meeting the aspirations and interests of the two countries," Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said at the opening of the meeting.

Resolve border issues

At the meeting, Vietnam and China affirmed that they will work together to seriously implement the agreements and common perceptions of the two countries' senior leaders, continuously consolidate and promote the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to develop further and deeper.

The two sides agreed to create favorable conditions to promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries; promote the effective implementation of the Action Program to implement the Vietnam-China strategic cooperative partnership; promptly establish a Working Group on Infrastructure Cooperation and a Working Group on Monetary Cooperation to enhance cooperation in related fields.

Vietnam and China also agreed to strictly implement the three documents on the Vietnam-China land border and coordinate to promptly resolve issues arising in border management. Both sides agreed that properly handling maritime issues is important to the relationship between the two countries.

Besides, strictly implement the common perception of the high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and two countries, based on the "Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues between Vietnam and China", promote negotiation mechanisms on maritime issues.

Based on the principle of easy first, difficult later, and gradual progress, early implementation of joint survey work will create a basis for promoting negotiations on demarcation of the sea area outside the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin, along with cooperation for mutual development in this sea area, as Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang agreed with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the meeting in Milan, Italy on October 16.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Pham Binh Minh affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China; emphasizing that the two sides need to effectively implement the agreements reached during the visit to China by Mr. Le Hong Anh, the General Secretary's special envoy in August 2014, on restoring exchanges and cooperation, controlling disagreements at sea, and not taking actions that complicate or expand disputes.

The Deputy Prime Minister also clearly stated the viewpoints and stance of our Party and State on the East Sea issue, affirming that Vietnam always prioritizes peaceful measures to resolve disputes and disagreements with China in the East Sea on the basis of complying with the common perceptions of the two countries' senior leaders, the Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues between Vietnam and China, international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

State Councilor Yang Jiechi said that China and Vietnam are two important neighboring countries. The Chinese Party, Government and people attach great importance to and always adhere to the policy of friendly cooperation with Vietnam. With joint efforts, the two sides have overcome the difficulties encountered in the recent past.

Currently, bilateral relations are gradually being restored. Both sides need to grasp the direction of development of bilateral relations, properly handle and control disagreements at sea, and create a favorable environment for bilateral cooperation.

State Councilor Yang Jiechi agreed to strengthen direction for relevant Chinese agencies to actively implement the agreements reached at this meeting.

After the meeting, the two co-chairs witnessed the signing ceremony of the minutes of the 7th meeting of the Vietnam - China Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee.

According to Vietnamnet