PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, Shanghai, China, November 4, 2018. Photo: VGP

The Government chief stressed the point at a meeting with Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping in Shanghai on Sunday.

PM Phuc conveyed Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong’s thanks to Xi for having congratulated to Mr. Trong upon his election as new State President of Viet Nam.

He extended congratulations on China’s achievements over the past four decades of reform, welcoming China’s pro-peace initiatives as well as the deployment of its Belt and Road Initiative toward accelerating cooperation for mutual benefits and supporting infrastructure development in developing countries.

Viet Nam backs Mekong-Lancang mechanism in association with the Greater Mekong Sub-region cooperation in effective management and use of water resources and sustainable development of the relevant countries, said PM Phuc.

He reaffirmed Viet Nam always attaches importance to advancing the friendly relations with China in a stable, healthy and sustainable manner, considering it as one of the top priorities of Viet Nam’s foreign policy.

Both sides should continue maintaining high-level visits and contacts, enhancing political trust, and beefing up major cooperative mechanisms, PM Phuc suggested.

He expressed his belief that the first China International Import Expo-CIIE 2018 would open up new cooperation and distribution channels so that more Vietnamese products could be imported and consumed in China.

Regarding maritime issue, PM Phuc welcomed positive results of the bilateral negotiating mechanisms and cooperation on less sensitive sea-related fields as well as initial progress in the talks process of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea between ASEAN and China.

He called for respect for legitimate interests of each side, strict implementation of the common perceptions reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders and the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Viet Nam and China.

PM Phuc also urged the two sides to perseveringly settle disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and maintain peace and stability in the East Sea and the region.

Party chief and President Xi warmly welcomed PM Phuc to the first China International Import Expo, which shows the Government of Viet Nam attaches importance to the Viet Nam-China relations.

He affirmed Chinese Party and State treasure the relationship with Viet Nam, vowing to work with Viet Nam to sustain high-level contacts, strengthen political trust, foster practical cooperation across fields, and maintain maritime peace and stability in order to create a favorable environment for development in boht countries.

China has taken measures to increase imports from Viet Nam, said Xi, adding that Viet Nam’s exports to China rose 36.8% over the past time./.