Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets with General Secretary and President of China

On the occasion of attending the first China International Import Expo, on November 4, 2018, in Shanghai, China, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a meeting with General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc conveyed the regards and thanks of General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong to General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, who sent a congratulatory message to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on his election as President and congratulated China on its achievements over the past 40 years of reform and opening up. The Prime Minister expressed his belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, the Chinese people will soon build China into a modern, prosperous, democratic, civilized, harmonious and beautiful socialist country.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed China's initiatives contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world; welcomed the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) towards promoting mutually beneficial cooperation, supporting developing countries in building infrastructure and connecting BRI with the implementation of the "Two Corridors, One Belt" cooperation framework in Vietnam. The Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam supports Mekong-Lancang cooperation associated with the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) cooperation framework for effective management and use of water resources and sustainable development of countries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed that on the basis of consistently implementing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification, Vietnam always attaches importance to developing friendly, stable, healthy and sustainable relations with China, considering this one of the top priorities in Vietnam's foreign policy. The Prime Minister suggested that the two sides maintain high-level visits and contacts, enhance political trust, and promote important cooperation mechanisms between the two Parties and the two countries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested that both sides further promote each country's potential, promote substantive progress in cooperation areas; expressed confidence that the China International Import Expo will open up new and favorable channels of cooperation and distribution, focusing on promoting official trade and building brands so that more and more Vietnamese products and goods can be consumed in the Chinese market. The Prime Minister suggested that China open its doors and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese goods to enter China; have practical policies and measures to reduce Vietnam's current large trade deficit, aiming for stable and sustainable growth in bilateral trade; and welcome modern Chinese enterprises to invest in Vietnam.

Regarding maritime issues, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed the positive results of the negotiation and cooperation mechanisms in less sensitive maritime areas between the two countries, as well as the initial progress in the substantive negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China recently; at the same time, he requested that the two sides respect each other's legitimate interests; seriously implement the common perception of the two countries' senior leaders, "Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues between Vietnam and China; persistently resolve disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea and the region.

General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping warmly welcomed Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Vietnamese Government delegation to the first China International Import Expo, affirming that this demonstrates the importance the Vietnamese Government attaches to the China-Vietnam relationship and makes an important contribution to the success of the Expo. The General Secretary and President of China emphasized that the Chinese Party and State attach importance to the relationship with Vietnam and agree with Vietnam to maintain high-level contacts, enhance political trust, promote substantive cooperation in various fields, expand people-to-people exchanges, consolidate traditional friendship, jointly maintain peace and stability at sea, and create a favorable environment for the development of bilateral relations.

Regarding economic and trade cooperation, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping emphasized that China does not pursue a trade surplus with Vietnam, but will increase imports of goods from Vietnam so that trade between the two countries can develop in a balanced and sustainable direction. In recent times, China has taken many measures to expand imports from Vietnam and has gradually reduced Vietnam's trade deficit. In the past year, Vietnam's exports to China increased by 36.8% and in the coming time, China will continue to promote this trend.