PM Phuc leaves for 2nd Belt and Road Forum

VN advocates regional economic connectivity, cooperation

The Vietnamese Government chief, who is in Beijing to attend the second Belt and Road Forum (BRF), conveyed the regards of Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong to Mr.  Xi Jinping;.

He congratulated China on its  achievements in national construction and development and wished the BRF a great success. 

Phuc highly spoke of the positive developments of the ties between the two Parties and countries over the past time, affirming Viet Nam consistently pursues the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development while attaching importance to the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. 

Viet Nam welcomes and supports the “Belt and Road” initiative on the basis of ensuring the principles of peaceful, equal and win-win cooperation, mutual respect, and adherence to international law so as to contribute to development and prosperity of all countries, Phuc said. 

He suggested the two sides boost exchange of high-ranking delegations and cooperation at all levels; make effective use of existing mechanisms from central to local levels.

Both sides should fruitfully implement the signed agreements reached between the two parties and countries, enhance practical cooperation in diplomacy and defense-security, broaden and raise the effectiveness of people-to-people and youth exchanges, and organize activities to mark the 70th founding anniversary of the diplomatic relations.

Phuc suggested the two countries strengthen cooperation in sustainable management and use of water resources of the Mekong River and other shared rivers; extend bilateral agreement on sea fishing hotline; work together in supervising nuclear safety; and properly implement the three documents on the Viet Nam-China land border

Regarding the sea issue, PM Phuc said the two sides should continue to adhere to the common perception and agreements reached by the two sides’ senior leaders and the Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Viet Nam and China; consistently resolve sea-related issues via peaceful measures in accordance with international law to achieve progress in the demarcation of the waters off the mouth of the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf by 2020.

Both sides should fully and fruitfully implement the Declaration of the Conduct  of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); proactively push the negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) to maintain peace and stability. 

In reply, Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping warmly welcomed PM Phuc and the Vietnamese delegation to the second BRF, saying that their attendance reflects the importance that the Vietnamese Party and State attach to the Viet Nam-China relationship and contributes to the success of the BRF.

Mr.  Xi Jinping stressed that the Party and State of China attaches importance to the relationship with Viet Nam, and are of the same mind with Viet Nam on maintaining high-level contacts, enhancing political trust, promoting substantive cooperation across the fields, expanding people-to-people exchanges, strengthening the traditional friendship and well controlling differences for the stable, healthy and sustainable development of the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. 

Xi also voiced support for Viet Nam to promote its role at multilateral mechanisms especially when Viet Nam assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020./.