Vietnam, China agree to control maritime disputes, strengthen cooperation

Vietnam and China agreed to control disagreements at sea, not to further complicate the situation, and to strengthen cooperation in areas such as diplomacy, defense, security and law enforcement.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: VOV.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong paid an official visit to China from January 12 to 15 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the visit, the two countries issued a joint statement, stating that Vietnam and China agreed to control maritime disputes well, not to take actions that complicate or expand disputes, and to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, VNA reported.

Vietnam and China also agreed to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), on the basis of consensus and consultation, and soon build a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The two sides emphasized the need to comply with the important common perceptions that the two countries have reached and the "Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of Vietnam-China maritime issues", make good use of the government-level negotiation mechanism on Vietnam-China territorial borders, and seek through negotiations a fundamental and long-term solution that both sides can accept.

The two sides agreed to carry out the next steps well after completing the joint survey in the waters outside the Gulf of Tonkin, promote negotiations on demarcation of the waters outside the Gulf of Tonkin, and cooperate for mutual development in this sea area.

Vietnam and China are both in an important period of socio-economic development. The development of one country is an opportunity for the other. The two countries agreed to focus on promoting and improving the effectiveness of cooperation in the fields of diplomacy, defense, security, law enforcement, trade, infrastructure, agriculture, technology, enhancing people-to-people exchanges and implementing legal documents on land borders between the two countries.

Vietnam affirms its commitment to the "One China" policy, supports the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and resolutely opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist actions. Vietnam does not develop any official relations with Taiwan.

The two sides agreed to continue to strengthen coordination and collaboration at multilateral frameworks, together maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

Vietnam and China continue to adhere to the motto of "friendly neighbors, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability, looking towards the future" and the spirit of "good neighbors, good friends, good comrades, good partners", perceive and develop bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term vision, firmly grasp the major direction of Vietnam-China friendship, persistently respect each other, enhance strategic exchanges, political trust, properly handle disagreements, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and make greater new contributions to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

During the visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the two countries also signed many cooperation documents.

According to VNE