Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) General Secretary and State President To Lam and Chinese Premier Li Qiang agreed on October 12 to maintain regular exchanges at all levels and effectively promote the channels of party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people contacts.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam meets with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Hanoi on October 12. Photos: VNA

Vietnam and China will strengthen cooperation in national defense and security and foreign affairs, jointly respond effectively to non-traditional security challenges, improve the effectiveness of existing and explore new cooperation mechanisms, the two leaders said.

The two sides agreed that agencies at all levels, sectors, and localities of the two countries will implement policies and measures to promote more substantive cooperation in various fields for better achievements and to boost economic and trade cooperation.

Key goals include facilitating border trade, building smart border gates, and strengthening the link between the "Two Corridors, One Belt" framework and the Belt and Road Initiative, with priority given to enhancing rail connectivity.

The Vietnamese leader pledged that the country would welcome and create favorable conditions for Chinese enterprises to invest in large-scale advanced technology projects in Vietnam, to bring practical benefits to both nations and their people.

In return, the Chinese Premier emphasized that China will further open its market to Vietnamese agricultural products and help Vietnam set up trade promotion offices in China.

Both sides also wanted to expand their cooperation in the fields of science and technology, manufacturing supply chains, green development, and digital transformation.

Looking ahead to the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year, the two sides agreed to jointly organize activities during the "Year of Vietnam-China Humanistic Exchange" and strive to bring bilateral relations to a new stage of development guided by the "Six Mores."

They agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea (or South China Sea) concerning maritime issues.

 Lam urged the two sides to strictly implement the high-level common perceptions, seek effective methods and solutions to better control and resolve disagreements, and enhance cooperation to be commensurate with the level of bilateral relations and under international laws, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam prioritizes relations with China

General Secretary Lam highly appreciated Li's attention and support in promoting bilateral relations and the effective and timely coordination between the two governments and the two prime ministers.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (right) welcomes Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Hanoi on October 12.

Hailing Li's first visit to Vietnam as Premier of China, the Vietnamese leader said it is one of the important milestones in developing the relations between the two Communist Parties and the two countries in a deeper, more substantial, and comprehensive direction so as to meet the aspirations and common interests of their peoples for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

 "Vietnam has always given top priority to developing relations with China in its foreign policy," he pointed out.

The Vietnamese leader also congratulated the Chinese Party, State, and people for their great achievements over the past 75 years, especially in the 10 years of the new era since the 18th Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), under the leadership of General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President Xi Jinping as the nucleus.

In an atmosphere of friendship and trust, General Secretary Lam briefed his guest on the major positive achievements in socio-economic development, Party building and rectification, the fight against corruption and negative phenomena in Vietnam, and the preparations for the 14th National Congress of the CPV, which the CPV has identified as an important milestone.

He also appreciated Xi’s important contributions to the Vietnam-China relationship.

In response, Li reiterated that his trip is aimed at implementing the common perceptions reached by the top leaders of the two Parties and countries in recent times.

He said he expects to discuss concrete measures to promote the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and the Vietnam-China community of shared future to enter a new phase of development and achieve more substantial results.

The Chinese Premier congratulated the Vietnamese people on their great achievements under the leadership of the CPV, emphasized that his country regards the development of relations with Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, and reaffirmed that the Chinese Party and Government consistently support Vietnam's renewal, development and socialist construction.

The host and guest were also pleased to review the outstanding achievements and progress in Vietnam-China bilateral relations over the past period.

They emphasized that the two sides have implemented the important high-level common perceptions reached during the visits of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and the state visit of General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and State President To Lam to China in line with the "Six Mores".

They have contributed to the creation of a vibrant and effective environment for exchanges and cooperation at all levels, in all sectors, and in all fields, the two leaders said.