Vietnam - China strengthen sentiment, political trust, mutual understanding

The Foreign Minister said that the visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was an especially important event, attracting great attention from both countries and international public opinion. The visit was a great success in all aspects. This was the first direct official diplomatic activity between the top leaders of the two Parties and two countries after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the first foreign visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong after the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is the first top foreign leader that the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping welcomed immediately after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China - the most important political event of the Party and people of China.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping.

This demonstrates the mutual respect between the two Parties and two countries, especially the respect of the Party, Government and people of China and personally General Secretary and President Xi Jinping for our Party's General Secretary, through the arrangement to welcome our Party's General Secretary with the highest level of courtesy and many special arrangements.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son assessed that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's official visit to China this time is of great significance, strengthening and deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China in the new period. The visit also consolidates political trust, contributes to creating a solid political foundation and promoting substantive cooperation in all fields between the two countries; and strengthens the friendship between the people of Vietnam and China.

The Party and State of Vietnam always attach importance to and give top priority to building and developing good relations with the Party, State and people of China, for the fundamental and long-term interests of the people of the two countries, for peace, cooperation and development of the world and the region. The visit also aims to implement the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification, proactive and active international integration, "being a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community".

Speaking about the specific results achieved by both sides, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son informed that this is a particularly important foreign political event for both Parties and two countries. Through the visit, the two sides enhanced their sentiments, political trust, and mutual understanding, actively contributing to promoting the traditional solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and China, and further strengthening and deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China.

During the visit, the two sides issued a 13-point Joint Statement, including strategic contents guiding the development of bilateral relations in all fields in the coming time. The two countries agreed to continue to consolidate and develop the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China according to the 16-word motto of "friendly neighbors, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability, looking towards the future" and the spirit of "four goods": "good neighbors, good friends, good comrades, good partners".

At the same time, the two sides also reached consensus on many substantive cooperation contents, such as promoting the connection between the “Two Corridors, One Belt” Framework and the “Belt and Road” Initiative, promoting the process of opening the market for some agricultural, forestry and fishery products of Vietnam, and opening Vietnamese trade offices in China.

The two sides are willing to create favorable conditions for businesses of the two countries to strengthen investment, economic-trade cooperation, and cooperation in the fields of air, road and rail transport. In addition, the two sides also expressed their determination to make efforts to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries, seek measures to completely resolve the congestion at border gates, both ensuring safety against the epidemic and maintaining smooth customs clearance.

Regarding maritime issues, the two sides agreed that properly controlling disagreements and maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea is extremely important. They agreed to continue promoting the comprehensive and effective implementation of the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea" (DOC), on the basis of consultation and consensus, to soon reach a substantive and effective "Code of Conduct in the East Sea" (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982); well controlling disagreements at sea, not taking actions that complicate the situation and expand disputes.

The ministries, branches and localities of the two sides signed 13 documents and cooperation agreements in many fields. This is the basis and premise for the ministries, branches and localities of the two countries to effectively implement cooperation in the coming years.

The “Joint Statement on Continuing to Promote and Deepen the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership” and 13 cooperation documents in various fields have truly and vividly reflected the stature and level of connection of the Vietnam-China relationship; affirming the strong determination of the two Parties and two countries to continue to promote and deepen the cooperative relationship between the two countries in the coming time.

To implement the important common perceptions reached by the two General Secretaries and the results of the visit, in the coming time, the two sides will focus on promoting in all aspects.

That is, enhancing mutual understanding, consolidating and spreading political trust by regularly maintaining high-level and all-level contacts...; promoting people-to-people exchanges and local cooperation, solidifying the social foundation and creating new momentum for the development of Vietnam-China relations.

Create strong and substantial changes and improve the effectiveness of economic, trade, investment cooperation as well as other fields, bringing practical benefits and creating a solid foundation for the bilateral relationship.

The two sides will promote road, rail and air transport connections, including creating conditions for railway enterprises of the two countries to strengthen cooperation to increase the volume of Vietnamese goods transiting through China...

Control and properly handle maritime disputes, maintain a peaceful and stable environment in the East Sea and in the region. The two sides strictly adhere to high-level common perceptions; respect each other's legitimate and legal interests, resolve disputes and disagreements by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS 1982. Continue to effectively use the Government-level negotiation mechanism on Vietnam-China territorial borders and working groups on maritime issues; together with ASEAN countries, fully and effectively implement the DOC, strive to soon achieve a substantive and effective COC in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS 1982.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son believes that with the full, comprehensive and effective implementation of the high-level common perceptions and important results achieved during the visit, the friendly neighborly relationship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China will continue to have stronger developments in the coming time.