Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on December 16 on the occasion of the fourth Mekong – Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Luang Prabang, northern Laos.

The Vietnamese official spoke highly of the active developments in the bilateral relations over the recent past, and suggested that the two sides join hands to effectively implement the common high-level agreements and perceptions, as well as to maintain the trend of the fine development in the bilateral relations. He asked the Chinese side to continue applying effective measures to further improve Vietnam’s trade deficit and take steps so that more and more Vietnamese staples are consumed by Chinese customers such as fruits, aquatic products, pork and milk products.

As for the sea issue, Minh highly valued the positive outcomes of the negotiation and cooperation mechanisms in the less sensitive fields on the sea between the two countries, as well as the initial progress in the recent negotiations on the code of conducts on the East Sea between ASEAN and China. The two sides should continue to seriously implement the common perceptions of high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and States, he said, adding they should also persist the solution of disputes and differences by peaceful measures on the basis of respect to the international law, the 1982 UN convention on the law of the sea and the legitimate interests of each other, thus controlling differences and maintaining peace and stability on the sea.

For his part, the Chinese official affirmed that his Party and Government attach great importance to the unceasing consolidation and development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. China is ready to join in strengthening the strategic exchanges, consolidating the political trust, deepening the mutually beneficial cooperation, rationally setting the differences, and accelerating the healthy and stable bilateral relations, he affirmed.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said active collaboration will be made with the Vietnamese side to prepare for and realize the visits by leaders of the two countries, as well as the 12th session of the steering committee on the Vietnam – China bilateral cooperation in China next year. He stressed that China advocates opening the door for imports from other countries, with priority given to its neighbours, including Vietnam.

On the Mekong – Lancang cooperation, the two sides affirmed they attach importance to it and agreed to continue their participation and active contributions to the mechanism, pushing up the cooperation for the mutual, inclusive and fair benefits for all the participating countries.-VNA