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The meeting between Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Ulan Bator, Mongolia, July 14, 2016 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu
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At the meeting with his Chinese counterpart, PM Phuc affirmed that Viet Nam consistently pursues its foreign policy of peace, independence, self-reliance, diversification and multi-lateralization, and intensive international integration, while attaching importance to developing its friendly neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation with China.
He suggested the two Governments direct their agencies to effectively implement common perceptions and results of the ninth session of the Viet Nam-China Steering Committee on Bilateral Cooperation, maintain regular delegation exchanges to intensify political trust and mutual understanding and to boost practical cooperation.
PM Phuc called on China to increase imports of Viet Nam’s advantageous goods like agro-forestry-fishery products, and welcomed Chinese investors with good capacity to take part in projects which meet Viet Nam’s sustainable development requirements.
Regarding the East Sea issue, he suggested both sides strictly follow common perceptions and agreements reached by their senior leaders, including the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues. The two countries should speed up negotiations on sea-related issues, while well controlling disputes at sea, avoiding complicating the situation, implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) comprehensively and effectively, and soon signing a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in order to maintain peace and stability in the region, he added.
For his part, Chinese Premier Li confirmed that China attaches importance to consolidating and developing its neighborly friendship and all-round cooperation with Viet Nam.
China is willing to develop strategic dialogues with Viet Nam, boost win-win cooperation across sectors, follow common perceptions on sea issues, and control and address disputes properly so as to develop the China-Viet Nam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership stably and sustainably, he stated.
* The same day, PM Phuc met with Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev to discuss measures to further foster bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.
PM Phuc spoke of the establishment of a joint working group within the framework of the Viet Nam-Bulgaria Inter-governmental Committee to define Viet Nam’s potential semi-processed products to be processed into finished items in Bulgaria.
He suggested the Bulgarian Government facilitate the operation of Vietnamese businesses in Bulgaria’s manufacturing and processing zones.
He also expressed his hope that Bulgaria will help step up the European Union’s official signing and ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and provide official development assistance (ODA) for Viet Nam’s education sector.
Regarding the East Sea issue, the PM wished that Bulgaria would continue supporting Viet Nam’s and ASEAN’s stance of maintaining peace, stability, and aviation and navigation security and freedom in the East Sea and settling disputes by peaceful resolutions on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
President Plevneliev affirmed that with its strengths in labor cost, energy, seaport, and science and technology, Bulgaria will create the best conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to do business in the country and narrow down the gap with the EU market.
He promised to contribute to accelerating the EU’s signing and ratification of the EVFTA, confirming that Bulgaria will be one of the first nations to ratify the agreement./.
By Kim Loan
