Restoring stable development of Vietnam-China relations.

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

At a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in Hanoi this morning, both sides agreed that the healthy and stable development of friendly relations between Vietnam and China is in line with the aspirations and fundamental interests of the people of both 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 Vietnamese Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee, I would like to warmly welcome Comrade Yang Jiechi and the Chinese comrades to visit and preside over 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 and emerging issues between the two countries."

Vietnam highly values ​​Comrade Yang Jiechi's visit 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 even stronger momentum for restoring and promoting the stable and healthy development of bilateral relations, meeting the aspirations and interests of both countries," Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said in his opening remarks at the meeting.

Resolving emerging border issues.

At the meeting, Vietnam and China affirmed their commitment to working together to seriously implement the agreements and common understandings of the two countries' high-level leaders, continuously strengthening and promoting the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China, developing it to an ever deeper level.

Both sides agreed to create favorable conditions to promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries; to accelerate the effective implementation of the Action Program for the Vietnam-China Strategic Partnership; and to promptly establish a Working Group on Infrastructure Cooperation and a Working Group on Monetary Cooperation to strengthen cooperation in related fields.

Vietnam and China also agreed to strictly implement the three documents on the Vietnam-China land border, and to coordinate in promptly resolving issues arising in border management. Both sides believe that adequately addressing maritime issues is of great importance to bilateral relations.

In addition, strictly implementing the common understanding of the high-level leaders of the two Parties and two countries, based on the "Agreement on the Basic Principles Guiding the Resolution of the Maritime Issues between Vietnam and China," we should promote negotiation mechanisms on maritime issues.

Based on the principle of tackling easier tasks first and more difficult ones later, and proceeding in a gradual, sequential manner, the joint survey work should be implemented early to lay the groundwork for promoting negotiations on the delimitation of the maritime area outside the Gulf of Tonkin, coupled with cooperation and joint development in this area, as agreed upon by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at their meeting in Milan, Italy on October 16th.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Pham Binh Minh affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing a comprehensive strategic partnership with China; emphasizing that both sides need to effectively implement the agreements reached during the visit of Mr. Le Hong Anh, special envoy of the General Secretary, to China in August 2014 regarding the restoration of exchanges and cooperation, effectively managing disagreements at sea, and refraining from actions that complicate or expand disputes.

The Deputy Prime Minister also clarified the views and positions of the Party and State of Vietnam on the East Sea issue, affirming that Vietnam always prioritizes peaceful means to resolve disputes and disagreements in the East Sea with China on the basis of adhering to the common understandings of the high-level leaders of the two countries, the Agreement on the Basic Principles Guiding the Resolution of the 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 expressed that China and Vietnam are two important neighboring countries, and the Chinese Party, Government, and people attach great importance to and consistently adhere to the principle of friendly cooperation with Vietnam. With joint efforts, both sides have overcome the difficulties encountered in the past.

As bilateral relations are gradually recovering, both sides need to firmly grasp the direction of bilateral relations development, appropriately handle and effectively manage disagreements at sea, and create a favorable environment for bilateral cooperation.

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

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

According to Vietnamnet