At the Meeting, the two sides reviewed the developments of bilateral cooperation in various areas since the Sixth Meeting of the Viet Nam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Copperation convened in May 2103 and gave instructions on the focuses of the cooperation in the next period.
The two sides expressed the views that the stable and sound development of the Viet Nam-China friendly relations would meet the aspiration and fundamental interests of the two peoples and for the benefit of peace, stability and development of the region. The two sides agreed to make joint efforts to seriously implement the agreements and common understandings reached between the two countries’ leaders and unceasingly deepen the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic cooperation.
The two sides agreed to facilitate the exchange and cooperation between the two countries, promote the effective implementation of the Action Plan of the the Viet Nam-China strategic partnership, quickly establish the Working Group on Infrastructure and the Working Group on Currency to strengthen cooperation in these areas.
The two sides agreed to seriously implement three documents on land borders between Viet Nam and China, and coordinate with each other to resolve arising issues in border management in a timely manner. Both sides viewed that a satisfactory handling of issues at sea would be of important significance to bilateral relations. Two sides agreed to seriously implement the common understandings between leaders of two Parties and countries, and, based on "the Agreement on Basic Principles Guiding the Settlement of Issues at Sea between Viet Nam and China", to promote negotiation mechanisms on maritime issues. Based on the gradual approach of easy-first and difficult-later, two sides agreed to early conduct joint surveys, providing basis for promoting negotiations on the demarcation of waters off the Tonkin Gulf and the joint development cooperation in this area as agreed during the meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Milan, Italia on 16 October 2014.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh reaffirmed that Viet Nam always attached importance to the development of its comprehensive strategic partnership with China and stressed that two sides should effectively implement the agreements reached during the visit to China by comarade Le Hong Anh, Special Envoy of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam in August 2014, on resuming co-operation exchanges, proper controlling of disagreements at sea, refraining from actions that may complicate and expand disputes. Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh highlighted the position of the Party and State of Viet Nam on the East Sea issue and reaffirmed Viet Nam’s priority to use peaceful measures in working with China to settle disputes and disagreements in the East Sea on the basis of the common understandings between the leaders of the two countries, the Agreement on Basic Principles on the Settlement of Maritime Issues between Viet Nam and China, international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
State Councilor Yang Jiechi expressed that China and Viet Nam were two important neighbors of each other and the Party, Government and people of China always attached importance to and continued to pursue the policy of promoting friendship and cooperation with Viet Nam. He stressed that, with joint efforts, the two sides have overcome difficulties arising recently. Bilateral relations were step by step resumed and the two sides should closely follow the direction of development set out in bilateral relations, properly handle and control maritime disagreements, creating a favorable environment for bilateral cooperation. State Councilor Yang Jiechi agreed to give instructions to relevant Chinese authorities to actively implement agreements reached at this meeting.
After the meeting, the two co-Chairs witnessed the signing of Minutes of the 7th Meeting of the Viet Nam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation.
Previously, on 25 October, two Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs, as Secretary Generals, met at the prepatory session for the meeting of the Viet Nam - China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation./.