HCM City (VNA) – The 11th meeting of the SteeringCommittee for Vietnam – China Bilateral Cooperation convened in Ho Chi MinhCity on September 16 under the chair of Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh and State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China WangYi.

The sides agreed that the two countries’ comprehensivestrategic cooperative partnership has grown positively since the last meeting inApril 2017, with their high-ranking Party and State leaders exchanging frequentmeetings and contacts, and cooperation between their public ministries, sectorsand localities as well as people-to-people exchange boosted across fields.

They also pointed to shortcomings in bilateral ties,including trade deficit of Vietnam with China, slow progress ofChinese-constructed projects in Vietnam, and slow disbursement of Chinese non-refundableaid for Vietnam.

The sides delved into defining working priorities inimplementation of their leaders’ common perceptions for healthy and sustainablegrowth of relations.

They said they will work together in preparing for upcomingvisits and meetings of Vietnamese and Chinese leaders and promoting the role ofthe foreign ministries in coordinating bilateral engagements. Their joint workwould also aim at the implementation of cooperation between their Parties aswell as other exchange - collaboration mechanisms in defence, security, and lawenforcement.

The sides showed their support toward measures to boost a sustainable,balanced and healthy cooperation in economy, trade, and investment. They saidthey backed partnerships between Vietnamese and Chinese firms inagro-forestry-fishery, particularly the production of rice, cassava, dairyproducts and fruit.

They also agreed to facilitate the operation of Vietnam’strade promotion offices in China, encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Vietnam’shigh-tech and sustainable sectors, and direct firms from both sides to clearhurdles to their joint projects.

They concurred on boosting collaboration inscience-technology, environment, transport, agriculture, health, and expandinginvolvement in culture, education, tourism, press, and people-to-peopleexchange.

Deputy FM Minh stated win – win bilateral cooperation shouldbe practically enhanced in line with the common perceptions of the twocountries’ leaders. He suggested the sides effectively implement existingcooperation mechanisms between their ministries, sectors, and localities.  

Frequent exchanges between the two general secretaries ofthe steering committee, and the promotion of ambassadors’ connectivity role arealso necessary, Minh added.

The sides frankly discussed sea-related issues, agreeing tofollow their leaders’ common perceptions and the Vietnam – China agreement onbasic principles guiding the settlement of issues at sea.

They said they will step up negotiation mechanisms on sea-relatedissues for substantial outcomes, and fully and effectively implement the Declarationon the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) to ensure a favourableenvironment for the negotiation process of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea(COC). They also agreed to well control disagreements at sea without anyactions that further complicate the situation, and sustain peace and stabilityin the East Sea.

Concluding the meeting, the two chairs witnessed the signingof its minutes.  

Earlier, on September 14, Deputy Foreign Minister Le HoaiTrung and Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kong Xuanyou held a meeting betweengeneral secretaries of the Steering Committee for Vietnam – China BilateralCooperation.-VNA