Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks in Ha Noi on Sunday, following a welcome ceremony for Li, who is making an official visit to the country until Tuesday.

Dung said the visit of his Chinese counterpart would contribute to furthering the friendly ties between the two Parties, countries and people.

Li said his visit demonstrated the Chinese Government’s resolve to deepen the traditional friendship and expand mutually-beneficial ties with Viet Nam .

He extended condolences from the Chinese Party, State and people to Viet Nam over the death of General Vo Nguyen Giap, an outstanding military leader and a close friend of the Chinese people.

The two sides held in-depth discussions on their recent relations. They agreed on five measures to enhance their strategic co-operative partnership and political trust between the two nations while maintaining regular contact between leaders, ministries, departments and localities.

It was agreed that the two neighbours would promote co-operation in economics and trade, with a target lifting two-way trade to US$60 billion by 2015.

Measures will be taken to sustain the trade balance, expand financial and monetary links and foster resilience to financial risks.

Working groups will be set up to promote infrastructure and monetary co-operation.

The two countries will deploy key transport connectivity projects, including the construction of highways linking northern border Lang Son Province and Ha Noi and Mong Cai and Ha Long City, in addition to a potential Lao Cai – Hai Phong high-speed railway.

The two leaders pledged to work together to build a shared borderline of peace and prosperity and to work together at regional and global forums to achieve international stability.

On maritime issues, both host and guest agreed to implement an agreement on the basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related disputes.

The two sides will make full use of the Government-level negotiation mechanism on territorial borders as well as consultations and friendly negotiations to seek essential and long-term solutions acceptable to both sides.

They will actively consider transitional solutions that have no impact on each side’s stance, including researching and discussing development co-operation.

In such a spirit, the two sides agreed on the establishment of a working group on maritime co-operation in the framework of the governmental negotiation delegations on Viet Nam-China border.

The two government leaders agreed to accelerate the working pace of joint groups on waters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf and on co-operation in less sensitive issues at sea.

Co-operation on maritime environment protection, marine scientific research, search and rescue at sea, disaster prevention and maritime transport connectivity will be accelerated.

The two sides agreed to exercise tight control over maritime disputes and not to make any move that can further complicate or extend tensions, instead pledging to make proper use of the hotlines between the two foreign ministries and the two agriculture ministries to promptly and suitably deal with arising problems.

At the same time, the two sides will continue to seek effective measures to control disputes and maintain the overall good relations between Viet Nam and China and peace and stability in the East Sea. The two sides agreed to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the East Sea and strive for an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea on the basis of consensus.

Premier Li invited Dung to visit China. The Government leader accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Following their talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a series of bilateral co-operation documents, including an agreement on the opening of trade promotion agencies in each other’s market and a joint project on researching sea and island environmental management in the Tonkin Gulf.

Valuable friendship

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong yesterday received Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, saying that the Party, State and people of Viet Nam attach great importance to developing the neighbourliness and friendship of the two countries and the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership.

The Party leader appreciated the results of talks held between Premier Li and PM Nguyen Tan Dung on Sunday and expected that the two sides increase exchanges of high-ranking delegations, effectively co-operate in all fields, and develop appropriate and concrete measures to deal with existing issues via peaceful negotiations on the basis of agreements reached between the leaders of the two countries.

For his part, Premier Li stressed that China attached great importance to developing the comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership with Viet Nam.

He pledged to work with the Party, State and people of Viet Nam to continue strengthening and developing the friendship and co-operation between China and Viet Nam more positively and stably in the coming time.

On the same day, President Truong Tan Sang received Premier Li Keqiang, stressing some measures to deepen the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership in the coming time, particularly increasing political trust between the two Parties and States.

Regarding maritime issues, Sang said the two sides should put the issues firmly under control and resolutely settle remaining disputes by peaceful measures, following international laws and boosting negotiations on demarcation in the waters off the Tonkin Gulf.

On this occasion, Sang extended his invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping and other high-ranking leaders of China to visit Viet Nam in an appropriate time.

Premier Li spoke of his hope that results gained during this visit would help develop the comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership between the two countries strongly and stably.

NA co-operation

Later the same day, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung received Premier Li, stressing that the Vietnamese NA would do its utmost, together with the Party and State, to consolidate and develop the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership.

Hung expressed his hope that the two countries would continue to increase the exchange of delegations and information in a practical and effective way to strengthen their co-operation at regional and international parliamentary forums, contributing to enhancing co-operation between the two countries’ Governments and ministries.

Hung asked Premier Li to convey his invitation to Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, to visit Viet Nam at an appropriate time in 2014.

The Chinese Premier said he hoped the traditional friendship and co-operation between the two Parties, States, law-making bodies and people would develop further, bringing practical outcomes for both sides.—VNS