Viet Nam and China have discussed ways to foster the bilateral cooperation amid the current COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, during a virtual conference on May 29.

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, Viet Nam’s General Secretary of the Steering Committee for Viet Nam–China Bilateral Cooperation, holds an online conference with his Chinese counterpart Luo Zhaohui, who is also the committee’s Chinese general secretary, May 29, 2020 - Photo: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, Viet Nam’s General Secretary of the Steering Committee for Viet Nam–China Bilateral Cooperation and his Chinese counterpart Luo Zhaohui, who is also the committee’s Chinese general secretary co-chaired the event.

Both sides informed their outcomes in COVID-19 prevention and control and measures to prevent transmission from outside as well as figuring out tasks to soon promote socio-economic activities after the pandemic. 

Deputy FM Trung asked the Chinese side to continue facilitating and coordinating with Viet Nam to accelerate customs clearance for goods at land border gates. 

He suggested designating border gates for the trade of fruit and food, first of all the Lao Cai-Hekou railway border gate, increasing the number of cargo trains specializing in transporting farm produce imported from Viet Nam, and extending the hours for customs clearance at border gates.

Trung also urged China to accelerate procedures to open its market to Viet Nam’s farm products and allow more Vietnamese companies to export milk and rice to China.

The two diplomats consented to continue exchanging coordination in monitoring land border and organizing activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Viet Nam-China Land Border Treaty, the 10th year implementing three legal documents on land border. 

They agreed to conduct joint border inspections in line with the Agreement on Viet Nam-China land border management regulations and the Protocol on land border demarcation and marker plantation at a suitable time.

The two sides frankly discussed the sea issue, agreeing to uphold the role of existing negotiation mechanisms for substantive outcomes. 

Deputy FM Trung voiced Viet Nam’s concern about the recent complicated developments in the East Sea as well as the nation’s positions on its legitimate rights and interests in accordance with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

He asked the two nations to promote cooperation and handle disputes in the spirit of respecting each other’s legitimate rights and interests, reached agreements, common perceptions of both sides and international laws.