Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

At the meeting, in an atmosphere of affection, trust, substance and openness, the two Prime Ministers expressed their delight at the positive developments in the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries in recent times, especially the great success and special importance of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's official visit to China (October 30 - November 1, 2022).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated the success of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China; expressed his belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China with General Secretary and President Xi Jinping as the core, the Chinese people will successfully implement the goals and tasks set by the 20th National Congress. The Prime Minister affirmed that as two neighboring socialist countries, the Party, Government and people of Vietnam always attach importance to and give top priority to developing the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China. Prime Minister Li Keqiang affirmed that China supports Vietnam in building an independent, self-reliant economy and effectively integrating into the international community.

Prime Minister Li Keqiang highly appreciated and agreed with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's opinions on cooperation areas between the two countries. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The two Prime Ministers emphasized that the two sides will continue to concretize and turn the "Vietnam-China Joint Statement on further promoting and deepening the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership" achieved during General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's recent visit to China into concrete results; agreed to increase high-level exchanges and contacts, enhance effective, substantive, mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed promoting balanced trade development, especially maintaining smooth trade at border gates, creating favorable conditions forVietnamese agricultural products exported to China, especially during the upcoming Lunar New Year so that people on both sides can have a warm and happy Tet.

The Prime Minister hopes that the two sides will strengthen railway connections, increase the volume of Vietnamese goods transiting by Chinese railway to third countries; soon approve the opening and upgrading of a number of border gates and traffic connection projects in border areas; improve the quality of investment cooperation, and actively remove remaining difficulties in a number of cooperation projects such as the Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Plant Phase 2, Ninh Binh Fertilizer Plant, and Ha Bac Fertilizer Plant.

The Prime Minister also suggested that the two sides increase the exchange of experience in macroeconomic regulation, enhance cooperation in new areas such as digital economy, green economy, human resource training and development; promote industrialization and modernization; and effectively respond to emerging challenges such as food security, water security, and climate change.

Premier Li Keqiang highly appreciated and agreed with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's opinions on the areas of cooperation between the two countries; affirmed that they will cooperate to resolve the trade deficit, promote healthy trade in the spirit of mutual benefit, further open the market for Vietnam's exports, including agricultural products; ensure facilitation of customs clearance; especially will not let the situation of Vietnam's agricultural products being congested or damaged at the border gate recur.

Prime Minister Li Keqiang also suggested that the two sides strengthen cooperation to maintain supply chains and production chains, promote each side's advantages to jointly expand and exploit the world market. Regarding the resolution of remaining problems in a number of cooperation projects as mentioned by our Prime Minister, Prime Minister Li Keqiang emphasized his willingness to cooperate with Vietnam, and suggested that the two sides establish a Working Group to coordinate solutions. In addition, China is willing to create conditions for Vietnamese students to return to China and resume more commercial flights between the two sides.

The two Prime Ministers stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea; agreed to promote the expansion of common points, properly handle disagreements on the basis of equality and cooperation, continue to promote negotiation mechanisms on maritime delimitation and cooperation; fully and effectively implement the DOC, strive to build a substantive, effective and efficient COC in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, contributing to peace, security, stability and sustainable development in the East Sea and the region./.