Vietnam always places importance on maintaining friendly ties and developing a comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership with China as an unwavering part of foreign policy, as well as being a strategic choice and top priority for the country.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosts Chinese State Councilor and
Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi (L) (Photo: VGP)

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made the statement during a reception held on February 19 in Hanoi to welcome visiting Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi.

Upon greeting his guest, who is visiting the nation to co-chair the seventh meeting on co-operation in crime prevention and control between the two ministries of public security, PM Phuc informed him of the success of the recent 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

The Government chief also welcomed the outcomes of the working session between Minister Zhao and Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam, requesting that both sides continue implementing the freshly signed agreement.

The Chinese Minister delivered Premier Li Keqiang’s Lunar New Year greetings and congratulations on the success of the CPV’s 13th National Congress to PM Phuc.

Both countries represent important strategic partners to each other, Minister Zhao emphasised, expressing his hope that they will strive to further strengthen economic, trading, and investment ties, whilst guaranteeing supply chains to generate practical benefits for citizens of the two nations.

PM Phuc thanked China for their active co-operation and support for Vietnamese proposals and initiatives during the country’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2020.

Amid a range of fast and complex developments occurring in the global and regional situation, the Government leaders of both side held phone talks in the early stages of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in April, 2020. These discussions focused on co-operation and mutual assistance in the COVID-19 fight, he noted.

The nation greatly values the enormous efforts made by China in pandemic prevention, along with economic recovery and development, PM Phuc added.

The PM underlined that, amid a complex international situation and for the all-round interests of the two Parties and countries, the country strongly desire peace and stability in the region.

The CPV has the responsibility of guaranteeing legitimate Vietnamese interests, and it supports a China of development that makes active contributions to regional and global peace, co-operation, and development, PM Phuc affirmed.

The Vietnamese side hopes to join China in consolidating political trust, co-ordinating in international and regional issues of shared concern, effectively realizing the high-level common perceptions on sea-related issues, and respecting each other’s legitimate interests on the basis of compliance with international law. This is in addition to actively contributing to the maintenance of peace and the promotion of co-operation and development throughout the region and the wider world, according to PM Phuc.

He therefore expressed his confidence that the two governments and the two ministries of public security will help nurture sound relations between both sides.

The Vietnamese cabinet leader also asked that the Chinese Ministry of Public Security facilitate the development of bilateral links in economy and trade, whilst also helping to sustain peace, friendship, stability, and development along the shared border.

PM Phuc, through Minister Zhao, also extended the best wishes to Chinese Party General Secretary and State President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.