Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh is on a four-day official visit to
China at the invitation of China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
FM
Minh held talks with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing on Feb. 12.
They reviewed bilateral relations in all fields as well as regional and
international issues of mutual concern. They discussed measures to
enhance their comprehensive strategic partnership in the future.
FM
Yang lauded the Vietnamese FM’s visit and said he believes that the
visit will help to realise high-level leaders’ common perception.
Both countries valued the development of the relationship between both
countries, especially after the latest visits to China by Party
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and to Vietnam by Chinese Vice
President Xi Jinping.
They agreed that links between both Parties
and States are continuing to develop and become more effective, in line
with the interests of both peoples, to ensure peace, stability and
development in the region.
Many of the meetings and visits
by high-level Party and State officials from both counties have created
an important political momentum and contributed to enhancing ties in
trade, investment, education and science and technology.
Both ministers also agreed that to strengthen relations, both foreign
ministries need to work closer together, hold high-level exchanges, and
boost cooperation in trade and areas where the two countries have a lot
of potential, including infrastructure construction and transport.
On
border and territorial issues, both nations highly valued cooperative
results in adhering to three agreements on land borders, while urging
related agencies to soon sign an agreement to jointly develop tourism in
the area of Ban Gioc waterfalls and an agreement to regulate maritime
traffic in the Bac Luan estuary as well as working together to ensure
sustainable use of river and spring water resources along their common
border.
On sea issues, both countries have stated that they will
settle all differences by peaceful and friendship negotiations based on
common perception of top officials and under the Agreement on basic
principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues, in line with
international laws. This especially refers to the 1982 UN Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on Conduct of the
Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards the building of a Code of Conduct
(COC).
Also at the talks, both parties agreed to step up
cooperation and coordination and as a coordinator of ASEAN-China
relations, Vietnam stated it will work closer with China to
develop ASEAN-China links further in the future.
FM Minh began his visit to China on Feb. 12 and will return on Feb. 15./.
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