Vietnam, China issue joint statement

The joint statement was issued on the occasion of the State visit to China by State President Tran Dai Quang, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping.

President Tran Dai Quang and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, President Xi Jinping at the welcome ceremony in Beijing.

During the visit from May 11-15, President Tran Dai Quang attended the high-level forum on the Belt and Road Initiative, in Beijing.

He held talks with President Xi Jinping, and met with Premier Li Keqiang; Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China; Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; and Liu Yunshan, member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee’s Secretariat.

The two sides updated one another on the respective Party and national situations, as well as discussed bilateral relations with regional and international issues of mutual concern. They reached an important joint awareness of unceasingly deepening the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, the joint statement said.

Apart from Beijing, President Tran Dai Quang paid a visit to Fujian province, a coastal locality in South-Eastern China.

In the context of rapidly changing and complicated regional and international situations, the two countries should be patient, respect each other, maintain strategic dialogue, reinforce political trust, boost win-win cooperation, satisfactorily deal with outstanding disagreements and arising matters, and step up the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in a healthy and stable manner, so as to bring substantial benefits to their people, and make positive contributions to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

The two sides agreed to maintain the tradition of holding close meetings between Party and State leaders in a flexible manner, promptly exchange viewpoints on big and important issues in bilateral ties along with regional and international situations, step up orientating and steering work for the development of bilateral ties, and promote the role of the Steering Committee on Vietnam-China cooperation to speed up the implementation of the joint perception reached by the countries’ leaders.

The sides also agreed to boost exchanges and cooperation in diplomacy, defense, security and law enforcement.

They reached a consensus on increasing coordination and applying efficient measures to mutually support cooperation in economics-trade, production capacity, investment, infrastructure, finance and monetary issues in a stable, healthy and sustainable fashion.

They were unanimous on accelerating affiliation in agriculture, water resources, environment, science-technology, and transport.

The countries will be actively pushing for the operation of a hotline dealing with unexpected cases pertaining to sea fishing activities as well as related issues satisfactorily in conformity with their friendship, the joint statement said.

The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in culture, sports, tourism, and education, healthcare, and boost instructions and support for the friendship exchange and win-win cooperation between localities, especially those on the borderline.

They consented to continuously promote the role of the joint committee on land border, soundly execute legal documents on land border, enhance management over security and order in border areas, press ahead with opening and upgrading pairs of border gates, apply favorable customs clearance procedures, discuss regulations on the opening and operation of roads in border areas, prevent and combat legal infringements such as smuggling and illegal immigration, and maintain social security and order in border areas.

They sincerely and frankly discussed issues at sea, agreeing to abide by the important perception reached by Party and State leaders and the “Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of issues at sea between Vietnam and China”, and make the best use of the Governmental negotiating mechanism on boundaries and seek basic and long-lasting solutions acceptable to both sides.

They also agreed to soundly carry out the follow-up work of the completed joint survey in the area off the Tonkin Gulf, push forward with negotiations on the delineation of waters off the Tonkin Gulf, and actively step up cooperation for mutual development in the waters.

The two sides concurred to continue implementing comprehensively and efficiently the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon form a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) on the basis of consultation and unity, well manage disputes at sea, refrain from actions that could complicate or expand disputes, and maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.

The Vietnamese side affirmed that it respects the one-China policy while also supporting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and China’s unification cause, and is resolutely opposed to any “Taiwan independence” activities in any form. Vietnam has not developed any official relations with Taiwan, a stance that was welcomed by the Chinese side.

The two sides approved to boost coordination and collaboration in multilateral frameworks, like the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, ASEAN-China, ASEAN-China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN+3), and the East Asia Summit (EAS).

They agreed to work together in accelerating regional connectivity and integration, support ASEAN’s unity, solidarity and central role in the evolving regional architecture, and together contribute to preserving peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

The Chinese side vowed to support Vietnam to successfully organize the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting 2017 and expressed a willingness to actively participate in the event.

The Vietnamese side wished that the high-level forum on the Belt and Road will be a success and bring about mutual benefits for all countries.

The sides praised the success of the visit, which helps to reinforce mutual trust and traditional friendship, while deepening the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and contributing constructively to promoting peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development in the region and the world.