Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The comprehensive strategic cooperative partnershipbetween Vietnam and China has developed finely and reaped many encouragingachievements, with joint efforts of the two parties, governments and peoples,Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said.
In an interview granted to China’s Xinhua news agency on theoccasion of his attendance at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE)on November 4-5, PM Phuc affirmed that the most outstanding achievement is thestrengthening of political, diplomatic and economic ties.
According to the PM, the two countries have maintainedregular mutual visits and high-level contacts, through which the two sidesreached common perceptions on many important matters.
The political and diplomatic relations between Vietnam andChina have laid a foundation for the development of investment, trade andeconomic ties, with the signing of many investment and economic agreements.
China has become one of Vietnam's most important tradingpartners with the two-way trade surging, and trade imbalance graduallyimproving.
A string of people-to-people activities, particularlybetween youths, residents in border areas, have been held, thus positively contributingto enhancing the bilateral time-honoured friendship.
Tourism cooperation between Vietnam and China has continuedto advance in recent years, and China is Vietnam's largest source of foreignvisitors.
The PM cited figures which showed that last year, Vietnamwelcomed over 4 million Chinese tourists, up 48.6 percent year-on-year,accounting for over 30 percent of the total international arrivals to Vietnam.In the first ten months of this year, around 4.2 million Chinese touristsvisited Vietnam, representing a year-on-year rise of 28.8 percent. Meanwhile,about 3 million Vietnamese people visit China each year.
PM Phuc noted that both sides have coordinated closely incarrying out legal documents on land border, intensified management oversecurity and safety in border areas, and achieved common perceptions oncontrolling dispute and maintaining peace and stability at sea, while activelystepping up negotiation mechanisms on sea-related issues.
These achievements have contributed to solidifying the foundationfor the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, thus boostingdevelopment and improving position of each nation.
The Vietnamese government leader suggested the two sidescontinue to implement the important perception shared by leaders of the twocountries, increase the exchange of high-level visits and contacts, promotefriendly exchanges and win-win cooperation, and bring practical benefits to thetwo peoples.
He took the occasion to affirm Vietnam’s support of cooperativeactivities and economic linkages within the framework of the “Belt and RoadInitiative” for the sake of peace, development and prosperity for nations inthe principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits and respectingindependence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of participating countriesas well as international law.
PM Phuc noted in 2017, Vietnam and China signed a memorandumof understanding on joint implementation of “Belt and Road Initiative” and"Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan. Vietnam is of the viewthat the two countries have cooperation potential in promoting connectivity inpolicy, infrastructure, trade, finance and people-to-people links, he said.
He proposed that Vietnam and China focus on fosteringcooperation for greater access to the Chinese market by Vietnamese enterprisesand advantageous commodities, such as agricultural products, seafood, fruits,and electronic products, and actively promote balanced and sustainable trade.
The PM also called for greater Chinese investments inhi-tech and environmentally-friendly projects in Vietnam, while proposing theChinese side facilitate Vietnam’s access to its preferential loans.
He informed that the Vietnamese government has instructedministries and sectors to coordinate with the Chinese side to concretize theabove-mentioned cooperation contents, and work out specific cooperation planson connecting the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" with the“Belt and Road Initiative”.
PM Phuc appreciated China's organising the 2018 CIIE which reflectsthe country’s thinking of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, creating alarge-scale, important new trade promotion channel for China and partners, andoffering opportunities to enterprises from China and other countries to obtaininformation, research markets and promote trade.
Taking part in the expo as a “guest of honour,” Vietnam hasa good chance to promote its national image and strengthen trade and investmentpromotion activities, Phuc said, adding that Vietnamese companies haveopportunities to trade and expand cooperation with 150,000 entrepreneurs andinvestors from all over the world.
Through this expo, Vietnam, as a bridge between the ASEANEconomic Community and China, looks forward to optimizing practical benefitsbrought by the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, contributing to the overalldevelopment of ASEAN-China economic and trade relations, he added.-VNA
VNA
