Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan met Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi (Source: VNA)

The event was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, chairman of Viet Nam subcommittee, and Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi, head of China subcommittee.

Both sides agreed that strengthening the strategic trust and tightening comprehensive cooperation are suitable to the basic and long-term interests of the two peoples.

They agreed to maintain high-level exchanges; bring into full play the role of the Steering Committee for Viet Nam-China Bilateral Cooperation; and urgently discuss and sign an action programme on implementing the two countries’ comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership.

They underlined the need to share experience in Party building and national management, well organise the upcoming 9 ^th theoretical conference between the two parties, and effectively use cooperation mechanisms between their ministries and agencies.

The two sides agreed to foster practical cooperation in such areas as economics, trade, military, law enforcement, security, science, education, culture, and health care.

They said they will actively speed up transport projects connecting the two countries, including the Pingxiang-Lang Son-Hanoi expressway.

They signed a plan to implement the 2013-2015 Viet Nam-China cultural agreement and a memorandum of understanding on a list of cooperation projects of the 2012-2016 economic-trade cooperation plan between the two countries.

The two sides affirmed to seriously realise the common perception reached by Vietnamese and Chinese leaders and the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between the two countries, through negotiations and friendly consultations to settle the disputes peacefully.

They agreed to increase negotiations of the working group on the area off the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf and promote negotiations on the demarcation of the waters off the Gulf while discussing cooperation for mutual development in this waters and speeding up the implementation of joint surveys.

They agreed to effectively use the mechanism of the Viet Nam-China experts group on cooperation in less sensitive sectors at sea and start three projects on these sectors as agreed.

Both sides vowed to comprehensively and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC) in order to together maintain peace and stability in the sea.

They agreed to take this year – which marks the 10^th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN-China strategic partnership - as an opportunity to comprehensively realise the common perception reached by ASEAN and Chinese leaders, continuously expand and deepen ASEAN-China cooperation in economics, trade, transport and oceanography, thus contributing more to peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

During his stay in Beijing, Deputy PM Nhan and his entourage were received by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.-