Hanoi (VNA) – The annual Vietnam-China deputy foreign ministers’ meeting was held in China’s Guangzhou province on February 5-6 to review the bilateral ties in 2017 and discuss the focus of exchange activities and cooperation between the two countries in 2018, along with other issues in the relationship.

The meeting was attended by Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung and his Chinese counterpart Kong Xuanyou.

The two sides shared views on the active development of the bilateral ties in 2017, as reflected through regular high-level exchanges and common perceptions on enhancing the friendship and comprehensive cooperation reached by senior Party leaders of the two countries.

The 10th meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, which took place in Beijing in April 2017, has brought into full play its important role in coordinating cooperative sectors, they said, commenting on progresses made in cooperation via the Party channel, as well as collaboration in diplomacy, national defence and security.

China has remained Vietnam’s biggest trade partner and Vietnam has become China’s largest trade partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), they said.

They noted strides made in people-to-people exchange, mentioning the inauguration of the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace and the Chinese Cultural Centre in Hanoi.

Such outcomes have matched aspirations of the Vietnamese and Chinese people, and brought practical interests to them, creating a firm foundation for the two sides to step up their affiliation in the future, according to the officials.

The deputy ministers agreed to successfully implement high-level agreements and common perceptions, while maintaining visits and meetings between senior leaders of the two Parties and countries, aiming to consolidate political trust.

Apart from the organisation of the 11th meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, they also talked about the realisation of mechanisms of exchange and cooperation between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Vietnam National Assembly and the National People’s Congress of China, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

The two sides also looked into partnership in diplomacy, national defence and security, economy, trade, investment, tourism, science-technology, transport, agriculture and environment.

They consented to facilitate the entry of Vietnamese products into China, especially farm produce, milk and dairy products, fruit, seafood, pigs and pork, along with pushing the implementation of China’s credit packages and non-refundable aid to Vietnam.

At the same time, they will support and encourage Vietnamese and Chinese localities, particularly those along the common border, to enhance exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Another issue raised for discussion at the meeting is how to intensify the friendship, mutual trust and understanding between citizens of the two countries.

Both highly valued active progresses on the shared land border as evidenced by the opening of the Ly Van-Shuolong border gate, Bac Luan II Bridge and the freight route connecting Vietnam and China at the Huu Nghi-Youyi Guan gate.

They will closely work with each other in materialising legal documents on land border, contributing to building a common border of peace, stability, friendship and cooperation.

The two sides held that the maintenance of negotiation mechanisms for sea issues has helped intensify mutual understanding and reached specific progress.

In the spirit of frankness and friendship, they compared notes on issues of shared concern as well as Vietnam’s concerns over the recent complex happenings in the East Sea.

During his stay in Guangzhoung , Deputy Foreign Minister Trung met with Guangdong Province Governor Ma Xingrui and Guangdong Deputy Governor Ouyang Weimin.

They applauded outcomes of cooperation between Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities and Guangdong province in 2017, and agreed to carry forward the coordination mechanism between the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the people’s authority of Guangdong province.

They will also further utilise potential and advantages of the two sides and expand mutual beneficial cooperation, especially in economy, trade, investment, tourism, science-technology between Guangdong and ministries, agencies and localities of Vietnam.-VNA