Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s attendance of thesecond Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in Beijing,China from April 25-27 will help bolster Vietnam-China cooperation,contributing to regional peace and prosperity.

PM Phuc’s trip to China will be made at the invitation of General Secretary ofthe Communist Party of China Central Committee and President Xi Jinping.

It takes place with the two nations maintaining their stable relations, and witnessingadvancemens in cooperative ties. Delegation exchanges at all levels have beenorganised regularly, helping consolidate mutual political trust, whilecooperative mechanisms at local levels have been carried out effectively.

In addition, economic, trade, investment and tourism relations have developed.

PM Phuc will join leaders from more than 30 countries, as well as more than5,000 delegates at the second BRF, themed “Shaping a Brighter Shared Future”.

Vietnam pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace,cooperation, development, multilateralisation and diversification of relationsand active international integration. Being a responsible member of theinternational community, the country wants to maintain a peaceful environment,mobilise resources to develop the country, increase the nation’s prestige inthe international arena and contribute to peace and social advancementworldwide.

To that end, Vietnam welcomes all initiatives promoting regional economicconnectivity, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BIR), raised by ChinesePresident Xi Jinping during his visits to the Central Asia and Southeast Asiain 2013. The initiative must respect peaceful cooperation, equality and mutualbenefits, and be in line with the international regulations and the UnitedNations’ Charter.

In May 2017, then President Tran Dai Quang attended the first BRF and deliveredan important speech highlighting Vietnam’s stance on cooperation principles tocontribute to regional and global peace, stability and prosperity. Six monthslater, Vietnam and China signed a governmental-level memorandum of understanding(MoU) on promoting connectivity between the “Two corridors, one economic belt”initiative and the BRI during President Xi’s visit to Hanoi. Discussions areunderway for a plan to carry out the MoU.

The BRI has seen good progress so far as it secured various cooperationdocuments that involve 150 countries and global organisations.

The initiative is expected to createa large economic and trade network, covering a region with 4.4 billion peopleand a combined GDP of 21 trillion USD.–VNA