PM reiterates importance of China relations

                                                    Photos: VGP

Prime Minister emphasizes ongoing ties in meeting with Chinese Party Secretary and President.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasized Vietnam’s consistent policy of attaching special importance to its friendship with China and giving it top priority in the country’s foreign policy.

The Vietnamese leader made the statement at his meeting with Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping in Beijing on September 13, during his official visit to China.

Vietnam and China, he said, are embarking on an important phase of the renewal and open-door process so ensuring a peaceful, stable and cooperative environment for national construction and development are shared interests.

Fostering the time-honored friendship and developing relations in a stable, healthy and sustainable manner is crucial for the both countries’ national construction and development and beneficial to peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large, he added.

Mr. Phuc also proposed several major orientations to further tighten relations between the two Parties and countries, stressing the extreme importance of strengthening political trust and boosting results-oriented cooperation.

Mr. Xi said that Mr. Phuc’s visit was significant for the consolidation and enhancement of the friendly neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Mr. Phuc asked both sides to manage disputes at sea, comply with agreements and the common perceptions of their senior leaders, effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and soon sign a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, in order to help stabilize the situation and contribute to peace, cooperation and development in the region.

Mr. Xi suggested that the two sides carry forward the role played by the China-Vietnam Steering Committee on Bilateral Co-operation in coordinating and forging the affiliation.

Regarding economic and trade ties, Mr. Phuc requested the two countries’ ministries and agencies settle difficulties to develop bilateral economic and trade relations effectively and sustainably.

According to Mr. Xi, both sides should strengthen collaboration in production and tourism, soon build joint border economic zones and hasten the implementation of key cooperation projects.

Mr. Xi promised that China would encourage businesses with high capacity and using high technology to invest in Vietnam and will actively partner with the country in addressing problems hindering bilateral economic and trade ties.

On the same day, Mr. Phuc met with Chinese banking and corporate executives in Beijing, where he affirmed that the Vietnamese Government was striving to improve the business climate and offer all possible support to enterprises.

He said that Vietnam welcomes prestigious banks with high liquidity, at a reception for the President of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) Mr. Yi Huiman.

In particular, he asked the ICBC to work with the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) to devise effective and practical methods of cooperation. According to Mr. Yi, as one of the five Chinese banks operating in Vietnam, the ICBC is funding a number of key socioeconomic projects in Vietnam and 80 per cent of its staff are Vietnamese.

Meeting the President of the Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), Mr. Zhou Mubing, the Prime Minister lauded the bank for its trans-border payment services over past years, which have contributed to boosting Vietnam-China economic and trade ties. Mr. Phuc told his host that the SBV would consider ABC’s proposal to open a branch in the country.

During a meeting with the Asia Director of the Zhongxing Corporation, Mr. Fan Hu, and Vice President of Huawei Corporation, Mr. Wanghui, Mr. Phuc asked the two leading Chinese telecommunications firms to forge closer ties with Vietnamese partners.

Mr. Phuc’s visit to China with a high-ranking delegation is the first high-level visit following Vietnam’s National Party Congress XII and will last from September 10 to 15.

by Duy Anh / vneconomictimes.vn