Beijing (VNA) – Vietnam and China discussed andagreed on the focal points of their cooperation to promote the bilateralcomprehensive strategic cooperative partnership at the 10th meeting of thecountries’ Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation in Beijing on April 17.

Under the co-chair of Vietnamese Deputy PrimeMinister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Chinese State Councillor YangJiechi, the meeting highly valued the positive development trend in bilateralcooperation since the ninth meeting on June 6, 2016, especially regularmeetings between their Parties’ and States’ senior leaders, enhancedcooperation between ministries, sectors and localities, and strongerpeople-to-people exchanges.

They also pointed out difficulties and obstaclesin the two countries’ relations.

The two sides agreed to strengthen coordinationto prepare for visits and meetings of the two countries’ high-ranking leaders.They will bolster cooperation between the Parties and bring into play the twoforeign ministries’ role in coordinating and stepping up bilateral ties.

The two sides will implement mechanisms for defenceexchange and cooperation and intensify connections in security and lawenforcement.

Effective measures will be taken to balancetrade, expand investment and promote the sustainable development of economicand trade relations with a focus on agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

Both sides also agreed to facilitate theestablishment of Vietnam’s trade promotion offices in China and increaseChinese investment in the fields that match Vietnam’s demand and interests. 

China expressed support for Vietnam’s access topreferential loan sources and financial funds within the framework of ASEAN-China andMekong-Lancang cooperation.

The two sides vowed to strengthen collaborationin transport, environmental protection, climate change response, cross-borderlabour management, among others.

The two sides discussed sea-related issues in astraightforward manner, and agreed to observe important shared conceptionsreached by their Party and government leaders as well as the Vietnam-Chinaagreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues.

They agreed to push negotiation mechanisms regardingsea-related issues towards achieving substantial outcomes, comprehensively andeffectively carry out the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea(DOC), soon finalise a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), control seadisputes well, not to take actions that may complicate the situation or expanddisputes, and maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.

Also at the meeting, Deputy PM Minh proposedthat the two countries boost win-win cooperation for substantive progress inline with the common perceptions of the countries’ senior leaders. 

He urged that the two countries shouldeffectively make use of existing cooperation mechanisms between ministries,sectors and localities, maintain regular contact between the twoSecretaries-General of the steering committee for bilateral cooperation, and fullyutilise the bridging role of the Vietnamese and Chinese Ambassadors, thusexpanding and improving the quality of cooperation in all aspects.

Deputy PM Minh is scheduled to meet withPolitburo permanent member and Chairman of the National Committee of theChinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Yu Zhengsheng in theafternoon of April 17.-VNA