Vietnam and China have issued a joint statement on further deepeningtheir comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new period,on the occasion of Premier Li Keqiang’s official visit to Vietnam fromOctober 13-15.
The document said the two sideshave looked back at and valued the development of Vietnam-Chinarelations, affirming they will follow the important common perceptionsreached by high-ranking leaders of both countries to develop theircomprehensive strategic cooperative partnership under the motto“friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-termstability and looking towards the future” and in the spirit of “goodneighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners”.
The two sides were unanimous that amid the current complicateddevelopment of the international economic and political situation, itwill be in the essential interest of the two Parties, countries andpeoples as well as benefit regional and international peace, stabilityand development, that the two sides increase strategic contacts, deepenresult-orientated cooperation, satisfactorily settle existing problems,enhance coordination regarding international and regional issues, andpromote the healthy and long-term stable development of relationsbetween the two countries.
Both sides hailed theimportant role of high-level contacts between the two countries asirreplaceable, and agreed to maintain high-level contacts and visits,and at the same time promote high-level contacts in various forms suchas meeting on the sidelines of multilateral forums and hotlines betweenhigh-ranking leaders to discuss in depth major issues in bilateralrelations as well as issues of mutual interest.
Thetwo sides agreed to continue making good use of the mechanism of theVietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation to boostmutually beneficial cooperation in all areas; well carry out the actionprogramme to implement the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategiccooperative partnership; maximise the exchanges and cooperativemechanisms between the diplomatic, defence, economic-trade, publicsecurity and press sectors of the two countries as well as between thecommissions for external relations, and the popularisation and educationof the Central Committees of the two Parties.
Thetwo sides also agreed to well organise the meeting of the Vietnam-ChinaSteering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, the conference oncooperation in crime prevention and fighting, the meeting of theCommittee on Trade-Economic Cooperation, and the theoretical seminar ofthe two Parties. At the same time, they will continue to hold annualdiplomatic and security-defence consultations, training courses forParty and State officials while effectively using the direct hotlinesbetween the two defence ministries and enhancing the correct guidance ofthe media and public opinions, thus contributing to strengtheningmutual trust and maintaining the stable development of bilateral ties.
The two sides held that Vietnam and China areneighbours and partners, and both are in the key stage of theirsocio-economic development causes. Based on shared needs and interests,on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, the two sides agreed todeepen their comprehensive strategic cooperation, focusing on thefollowing aspects:
On onshore cooperation
The two sidesagreed on the prompt implementation of the “five-year development planfor economic-trade cooperation between Vietnam and China for the2012-2016 period” and the list of key cooperation projects, theestablishment of a working group on infrastructure cooperation betweenthe two countries for planning and instructing the implementation ofspecific projects, and an early conclusion on the way to carry out andmobilise capital for the Lang Son-Hanoi highway project in order tostart construction at an early date. Both sides will actively promotethe Mong Cai-Ha Long highway project, in which the Chinese side supportsits businesses to join in the project in the market principle as wellas is ready to provide support in terms of capital mobilisation in theircapacity. Relevant ministries and sectors of the two countries willspeed up and launch at an early date a feasibility study on the LaoCai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project. The two sides agreed to well carryout the “memorandum of understanding on the construction of cross-bordereconomic cooperation zones”, conduct a study and negotiations on andfinalise the revised “Vietnam-China border trade agreement”, promotingthe active role in boosting cooperation and prosperity in the twocountries’ border areas.
The two sides agreed to strengthen thecoordination of the economic-trade policy, implement the “memorandum ofunderstanding on bilateral cooperation in the trade of farm products”and the “agreement on opening a trade promotion agency” in theirrespective countries, ensuring bilateral trade balance based onsustainable trade growth and reaching 60 billion USD in two-way tradeahead of schedule for 2015. The Chinese side encourages Chinesebusinesses to expand imports of Vietnam’s competitive goods and supportsChinese firms investing in Vietnam while being ready to create morefavourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to expand their marketin China. The Vietnamese side will facilitate and support the earlycompletion of the Long Giang and An Duong industrial zones. The twosides will accelerate the construction for an early completion of theVietnam-China Friendship Palace.
Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture, science-technology, culture, sports, tourism and health.
Theyreached a unanimous decision to continue promoting the role of the landborder joint committee between the two countries, fully implement theannual working plan, hold the first meeting of the cooperation committeefor border gate management between the two countries, promote theopening and upgrading of some pairs of land border gates and officiallyopen the Hoanh Mo-Dong Zhong national border gates. They agreed toaccelerate negotiations on the “agreement on cooperation in protectionand use of tourist resources in the Ban Gioc waterfall area”, earlyachieving practical progress, and launch a new round of negotiations andreach consensus on the agreement on “free travel of ships at the BacLuan river mouth”, complete the construction of cross-border bridgessuch as Bac Luan 2 and Ta Lung-Shui Kou 2 bridges, creating a basis forthe stability and development of the two countries’ border areas.
Theyalso agreed to further cooperation between localities, particularlyborder provinces and autonomous regions, and bring into full play therole of related cooperation mechanisms between the two countries’localities.
On monetary cooperation
The two sides agreedto boost cooperation in finance, create favourable conditions andencourage their financial organisations to provide financial services tobilateral cooperation projects on trade and investment. Based on theagreement on payment with bilateral domestic currencies in cross-bordertrade signed between the two central banks in 2003, research forexpanding the scope of domestic currency payment will be continued toconduct and enhance the exchange of trade and investment between the twosides. They decided to establish a working group on monetarycooperation between the two countries, raising the financial-monetaryrisk prevention capacity of both sides, maintaining economic stabilityand development of both countries and the region. Strengtheningregulation and multilateral coordination and joining hands in promotingthe East Asian monetary-financial cooperation are included.
On cooperation at sea
Both sides agreed to observe the common perception reached by leadersof the two Parties and States, and stringently implement “the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues between Vietnam and China”. They were unanimous in efficiently employing theGovernment-level negotiation mechanism on Vietnam-China boundary andterritory and persistently seeking mutually acceptable fundamental andlong-lasting solutions through negotiations and peaceful talks, andactively studying transitional solutions that do not affect each side’sstance and policy, which will include studies and discussions pertainingto cooperation for mutual development. Both sides agreed to establish aworking group discussing cooperation for mutual development at sea aspart of the Governmental Negotiation Team on Vietnam-China Boundary andTerritory.
The two sides agreed to intensifyinstructions to the existing consultation and negotiation mechanisms,boost the operation of the working group on the waters off the mouth ofthe Tonkin Gulf and the expert-level working group on cooperation onless sensitive issues at sea.
Following the“easy-first, difficult-later” and “step by step” principles, the twosides vowed to steadily speed up negotiations on the demarcation of thewaters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf along with stepping upcooperation for mutual development in this area. This year, they willkick-start a joint survey in the waters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulfas part of the implementation of negotiating tasks of the working groupon the waters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf.
Thetwo sides will quickly carry out cooperation projects in less sensitiveareas at sea like cooperation in maritime and island environmentalprotection in the Tonkin Gulf, a survey on Holocenne-era sediments foundin the Hong (Red) River delta and the Chang Jiang delta, and continueaccelerating cooperation in maritime environmental protection, marinescientific research, search and rescue at sea, disaster prevention, andmaritime transport connectivity.
The two sidesagreed to exercise tight control of maritime disputes and not to makeany move that can further complicate or expand disputes, making good useof the hotline between the two Foreign Ministries to manage and controldisputes at sea as well as the one between the two AgricultureMinistries to promptly and suitably deal with problems arising fromfishery activities at sea. At the same time, the two sides will continueto actively discuss and seek efficient measures to control disputes andmaintain the overall good relations between Vietnam and China, andpeace and stability in the East Sea.
The two sides reached aconsensus on the good organisation of such activities as the secondVietnam-China Youth Festival, the Vietnam-China Youth FriendshipMeeting, and the Vietnamese-Chinese People Festival to educate theyounger generations on the friendship between Vietnam and China. Theyagreed to establish a Confucius Institute in Vietnam and speed up thesetting up of one side’s culture centre in the other side as a practicalmove to popularise the friendship between Vietnam and China and furtherpromote their people’s understanding and friendship.
The Vietnamese side affirmed to consistently pursue a one-Chinapolicy, support the peaceful development of cross-Taiwan Straitrelations and China’s great cause of unification, and resolutely opposeactions for the “independent Taiwan” in any form. Vietnam does notdevelop any official ties with Taiwan. Vietnam’s stance was welcomed bythe Chinese side.
Both sides also agreed to boostregulation and coordination at multilateral forums like the UnitedNations, the World Trade Organisation, the Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation (APEC) forum, the Asia-Europe Summit, the ASEAN RegionalForum, the ASEAN-China Summit, the ASEAN Plus with China, Japan and theRepublic of Korea, and the East Asia Summit, thus working together inmaintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the world.
They gave high estimations to the immense achievements obtained in thedevelopment of ASEAN-China relations, agreeing to seize the opportunityof the 10 th anniversary of the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership toreinforce their strategic trust.
The Vietnamese sidehailed China’s proposals on signing a “treaty of neighbourly andfriendly cooperation between ASEAN and China”, upgrading the ASEAN-ChinaFree Trade Area, and establishing an Asian infrastructure investmentbank. That ASEAN and China expand wide-ranging cooperation is extremelycrucial to promoting peace, stability, mutual respect and trust inSoutheast Asia.
The two sides agreed to fully andefficiently implement the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the EastSea (DOC), increase trust, enhance cooperation and work together inmaintaining peace and stability in the East Sea. Holding onto the spiritand principle of the DOC based on mutual consensus, both sides will domore for the adoption of a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea(COC).
During the visit, the two sides signed anagreement on the opening of each side’s trade promotion agency in theother side, a memorandum of understanding on building a cross-bordereconomic cooperation zone, a memorandum of understanding on theestablishment of a joint working group in support of projects carriedout by Chinese businesses in Vietnam, an agreement on the building of TaLung-Shui Kou inland Bridge 2 with attached protocol, a cooperationproject on research and management of maritime and island environment inthe Tonkin Gulf, a research project on the comparison of Holocenne-erasediments found in the Hong (Red) River delta and the Chang Jiang delta,an agreement on the establishment of a Confucius institute at the HanoiUniversity, and other economic cooperation documents.
The two sides were delighted with the result of Chinese Premier LiKeqiang’s Vietnam visit and agreed that this visit was of importantsignificance to stepping up the practical development of the bilateralrelations and cooperation in all domains.-VNA
The document said the two sideshave looked back at and valued the development of Vietnam-Chinarelations, affirming they will follow the important common perceptionsreached by high-ranking leaders of both countries to develop theircomprehensive strategic cooperative partnership under the motto“friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-termstability and looking towards the future” and in the spirit of “goodneighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners”.
The two sides were unanimous that amid the current complicateddevelopment of the international economic and political situation, itwill be in the essential interest of the two Parties, countries andpeoples as well as benefit regional and international peace, stabilityand development, that the two sides increase strategic contacts, deepenresult-orientated cooperation, satisfactorily settle existing problems,enhance coordination regarding international and regional issues, andpromote the healthy and long-term stable development of relationsbetween the two countries.
Both sides hailed theimportant role of high-level contacts between the two countries asirreplaceable, and agreed to maintain high-level contacts and visits,and at the same time promote high-level contacts in various forms suchas meeting on the sidelines of multilateral forums and hotlines betweenhigh-ranking leaders to discuss in depth major issues in bilateralrelations as well as issues of mutual interest.
Thetwo sides agreed to continue making good use of the mechanism of theVietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation to boostmutually beneficial cooperation in all areas; well carry out the actionprogramme to implement the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategiccooperative partnership; maximise the exchanges and cooperativemechanisms between the diplomatic, defence, economic-trade, publicsecurity and press sectors of the two countries as well as between thecommissions for external relations, and the popularisation and educationof the Central Committees of the two Parties.
Thetwo sides also agreed to well organise the meeting of the Vietnam-ChinaSteering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, the conference oncooperation in crime prevention and fighting, the meeting of theCommittee on Trade-Economic Cooperation, and the theoretical seminar ofthe two Parties. At the same time, they will continue to hold annualdiplomatic and security-defence consultations, training courses forParty and State officials while effectively using the direct hotlinesbetween the two defence ministries and enhancing the correct guidance ofthe media and public opinions, thus contributing to strengtheningmutual trust and maintaining the stable development of bilateral ties.
The two sides held that Vietnam and China areneighbours and partners, and both are in the key stage of theirsocio-economic development causes. Based on shared needs and interests,on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, the two sides agreed todeepen their comprehensive strategic cooperation, focusing on thefollowing aspects:
On onshore cooperation
The two sidesagreed on the prompt implementation of the “five-year development planfor economic-trade cooperation between Vietnam and China for the2012-2016 period” and the list of key cooperation projects, theestablishment of a working group on infrastructure cooperation betweenthe two countries for planning and instructing the implementation ofspecific projects, and an early conclusion on the way to carry out andmobilise capital for the Lang Son-Hanoi highway project in order tostart construction at an early date. Both sides will actively promotethe Mong Cai-Ha Long highway project, in which the Chinese side supportsits businesses to join in the project in the market principle as wellas is ready to provide support in terms of capital mobilisation in theircapacity. Relevant ministries and sectors of the two countries willspeed up and launch at an early date a feasibility study on the LaoCai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project. The two sides agreed to well carryout the “memorandum of understanding on the construction of cross-bordereconomic cooperation zones”, conduct a study and negotiations on andfinalise the revised “Vietnam-China border trade agreement”, promotingthe active role in boosting cooperation and prosperity in the twocountries’ border areas.
The two sides agreed to strengthen thecoordination of the economic-trade policy, implement the “memorandum ofunderstanding on bilateral cooperation in the trade of farm products”and the “agreement on opening a trade promotion agency” in theirrespective countries, ensuring bilateral trade balance based onsustainable trade growth and reaching 60 billion USD in two-way tradeahead of schedule for 2015. The Chinese side encourages Chinesebusinesses to expand imports of Vietnam’s competitive goods and supportsChinese firms investing in Vietnam while being ready to create morefavourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to expand their marketin China. The Vietnamese side will facilitate and support the earlycompletion of the Long Giang and An Duong industrial zones. The twosides will accelerate the construction for an early completion of theVietnam-China Friendship Palace.
Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture, science-technology, culture, sports, tourism and health.
Theyreached a unanimous decision to continue promoting the role of the landborder joint committee between the two countries, fully implement theannual working plan, hold the first meeting of the cooperation committeefor border gate management between the two countries, promote theopening and upgrading of some pairs of land border gates and officiallyopen the Hoanh Mo-Dong Zhong national border gates. They agreed toaccelerate negotiations on the “agreement on cooperation in protectionand use of tourist resources in the Ban Gioc waterfall area”, earlyachieving practical progress, and launch a new round of negotiations andreach consensus on the agreement on “free travel of ships at the BacLuan river mouth”, complete the construction of cross-border bridgessuch as Bac Luan 2 and Ta Lung-Shui Kou 2 bridges, creating a basis forthe stability and development of the two countries’ border areas.
Theyalso agreed to further cooperation between localities, particularlyborder provinces and autonomous regions, and bring into full play therole of related cooperation mechanisms between the two countries’localities.
On monetary cooperation
The two sides agreedto boost cooperation in finance, create favourable conditions andencourage their financial organisations to provide financial services tobilateral cooperation projects on trade and investment. Based on theagreement on payment with bilateral domestic currencies in cross-bordertrade signed between the two central banks in 2003, research forexpanding the scope of domestic currency payment will be continued toconduct and enhance the exchange of trade and investment between the twosides. They decided to establish a working group on monetarycooperation between the two countries, raising the financial-monetaryrisk prevention capacity of both sides, maintaining economic stabilityand development of both countries and the region. Strengtheningregulation and multilateral coordination and joining hands in promotingthe East Asian monetary-financial cooperation are included.
On cooperation at sea
Both sides agreed to observe the common perception reached by leadersof the two Parties and States, and stringently implement “the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues between Vietnam and China”. They were unanimous in efficiently employing theGovernment-level negotiation mechanism on Vietnam-China boundary andterritory and persistently seeking mutually acceptable fundamental andlong-lasting solutions through negotiations and peaceful talks, andactively studying transitional solutions that do not affect each side’sstance and policy, which will include studies and discussions pertainingto cooperation for mutual development. Both sides agreed to establish aworking group discussing cooperation for mutual development at sea aspart of the Governmental Negotiation Team on Vietnam-China Boundary andTerritory.
The two sides agreed to intensifyinstructions to the existing consultation and negotiation mechanisms,boost the operation of the working group on the waters off the mouth ofthe Tonkin Gulf and the expert-level working group on cooperation onless sensitive issues at sea.
Following the“easy-first, difficult-later” and “step by step” principles, the twosides vowed to steadily speed up negotiations on the demarcation of thewaters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf along with stepping upcooperation for mutual development in this area. This year, they willkick-start a joint survey in the waters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulfas part of the implementation of negotiating tasks of the working groupon the waters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf.
Thetwo sides will quickly carry out cooperation projects in less sensitiveareas at sea like cooperation in maritime and island environmentalprotection in the Tonkin Gulf, a survey on Holocenne-era sediments foundin the Hong (Red) River delta and the Chang Jiang delta, and continueaccelerating cooperation in maritime environmental protection, marinescientific research, search and rescue at sea, disaster prevention, andmaritime transport connectivity.
The two sidesagreed to exercise tight control of maritime disputes and not to makeany move that can further complicate or expand disputes, making good useof the hotline between the two Foreign Ministries to manage and controldisputes at sea as well as the one between the two AgricultureMinistries to promptly and suitably deal with problems arising fromfishery activities at sea. At the same time, the two sides will continueto actively discuss and seek efficient measures to control disputes andmaintain the overall good relations between Vietnam and China, andpeace and stability in the East Sea.
The two sides reached aconsensus on the good organisation of such activities as the secondVietnam-China Youth Festival, the Vietnam-China Youth FriendshipMeeting, and the Vietnamese-Chinese People Festival to educate theyounger generations on the friendship between Vietnam and China. Theyagreed to establish a Confucius Institute in Vietnam and speed up thesetting up of one side’s culture centre in the other side as a practicalmove to popularise the friendship between Vietnam and China and furtherpromote their people’s understanding and friendship.
The Vietnamese side affirmed to consistently pursue a one-Chinapolicy, support the peaceful development of cross-Taiwan Straitrelations and China’s great cause of unification, and resolutely opposeactions for the “independent Taiwan” in any form. Vietnam does notdevelop any official ties with Taiwan. Vietnam’s stance was welcomed bythe Chinese side.
Both sides also agreed to boostregulation and coordination at multilateral forums like the UnitedNations, the World Trade Organisation, the Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation (APEC) forum, the Asia-Europe Summit, the ASEAN RegionalForum, the ASEAN-China Summit, the ASEAN Plus with China, Japan and theRepublic of Korea, and the East Asia Summit, thus working together inmaintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the world.
They gave high estimations to the immense achievements obtained in thedevelopment of ASEAN-China relations, agreeing to seize the opportunityof the 10 th anniversary of the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership toreinforce their strategic trust.
The Vietnamese sidehailed China’s proposals on signing a “treaty of neighbourly andfriendly cooperation between ASEAN and China”, upgrading the ASEAN-ChinaFree Trade Area, and establishing an Asian infrastructure investmentbank. That ASEAN and China expand wide-ranging cooperation is extremelycrucial to promoting peace, stability, mutual respect and trust inSoutheast Asia.
The two sides agreed to fully andefficiently implement the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the EastSea (DOC), increase trust, enhance cooperation and work together inmaintaining peace and stability in the East Sea. Holding onto the spiritand principle of the DOC based on mutual consensus, both sides will domore for the adoption of a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea(COC).
During the visit, the two sides signed anagreement on the opening of each side’s trade promotion agency in theother side, a memorandum of understanding on building a cross-bordereconomic cooperation zone, a memorandum of understanding on theestablishment of a joint working group in support of projects carriedout by Chinese businesses in Vietnam, an agreement on the building of TaLung-Shui Kou inland Bridge 2 with attached protocol, a cooperationproject on research and management of maritime and island environment inthe Tonkin Gulf, a research project on the comparison of Holocenne-erasediments found in the Hong (Red) River delta and the Chang Jiang delta,an agreement on the establishment of a Confucius institute at the HanoiUniversity, and other economic cooperation documents.
The two sides were delighted with the result of Chinese Premier LiKeqiang’s Vietnam visit and agreed that this visit was of importantsignificance to stepping up the practical development of the bilateralrelations and cooperation in all domains.-VNA
