Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam and China have issued a joint communiqué on the occasion of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to China from April 7-10 at the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) General Secretary and State President Xi Jinping.

Following is the translated full text of the statement:

1. During the stay, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with Party General Secretary and State President Xi Jinping; met with member of the CPC Politburo Standing Committee and Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang; member of the CPC Politburo Standing Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhang Dejiang; member of the CPC Politburo Standing Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Yu Zhengsheng. In a friendly and sincere atmosphere, the two sides informed each other of the situations in their respective Parties and countries, discussed in-depth and reached broad common perceptions on intensifying ties between the two Parties and countries in the new context, as well as on regional and global issues of shared concern. Besides Beijng, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong also visited Yunnan province.

The two sides shared the view that the visit has been successful and contributed importantly to promoting a stable and healthy development of Vietnam – China ties for fundamental benefits of the two peoples, while simultaneously fostering peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

2. Both sides expressed delight at great and historic achievements in socialism building in their respective countries, stressing that consistently following the leadership of the Communist Party and the road to socialism bearing the specific characteristic of each country is a sound choice that suits the fundamental interests of the two peoples. They will continue learning from each other, pushing ahead with the Doi Moi (renovation) cause in Vietnam and the reform and open-door process in China, constantly breathing new life into the socialism-building cause.

The Chinese side highly valued the great achievements that the Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, have made in promoting the Doi Moi cause since the 11th National Party Congress. China sincerely wished and believed that the Vietnamese people will fulfil goals set by the 11th National Party Congress, realise national industrialisation and modernisation, and successfully achieve the goal of building Vietnam into a strong socialist country with wealthy people, democracy, equity and civilisation.

The Vietnamese side highly valued the great strides in every field that China has made since the 18th National Congress of the CPC and sincerely wished and believed that under the firm leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people will harmoniously promote the construction of an overall well-off society, the intensification of the comprehensive reform, national governance according to the rule of law, the all-round strict management of the Party towards the successful realization of a modern strong socialist country with democracy, civilisation and harmony.

3. On the occasion of the 65th founding anniversary of Vietnam – China diplomatic ties, both sides reflected on the fine tradition of standing side by side and helping each other in the national liberation and advancement of revolutionary and socialism-building cause. Vietnam and China are important neighbours of each other, and the two countries agreed that they have similar political regimes and development paths with related future and destiny. The development of one country offers important opportunities to the other.

Both sides reviewed key experiences and crucial suggestions for the development of Vietnam – China relationship: the time-honoured friendship founded by late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong and generations of leaders is a precious asset of the two Parties, countries and peoples that need to be treasured, preserved and upheld; Vietnam and China share broad common interests that lay a solid foundation for bilateral ties; They need to consistently respect each other, hold sincere consultations and manage differences; As political trust is a foundation for the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties, both sides need to increase visits and exchanges, from the strategic heights, carrying the bilateral ties forward; win-win cooperation between Vietnam and China brings practical benefits to people in both countries and contributing to peace, development and prosperity in the region, which should be enhanced and deepened across sectors.

4. Both sides stressed that Vietnam and China will continue making efforts to carry out the motto “friendly neighbours, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability and looking toward the future” and in the spirit of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners”, always firmly grasping the development orientations of the Vietnam-China ties, advancing the Vietnam – China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership further.

They agreed to focus their cooperation on the following areas:

- Maintaining the fine tradition of close high-level contacts between the two Parties and countries by flexible means, timely sharing views on regional and global issues as well as important matters in bilateral ties, constantly discussing strategies, strengthening political trust, intensifying leadership and guidance towards the Vietnam - China relationship development.

- Continuing to make good use of exchange and cooperative mechanisms between the two Parties and countries like the Standing Committee on Vietnam – China Bilateral Cooperation, promote coordination to settle issues for the sake of the two peoples, carry out the Action Plan on realising the Vietnam – China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and reinforce result-oriented cooperation in every field to reap new progresses.

- Implementing well the cooperation plan between the two Parties, holding more theory workshops, facilitating exchanges between the two Parties’ agencies, increasing the sharing of experience in Party building, socio-economic development and country governance, deepening cooperation on Party and State personnel training. Promoting friendly exchanges and collaboration between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Chinese National People’s Congress, between the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

- Well implementing the “Master Plan on Vietnam – China Economic and Trade Cooperation for the 2012-2016 period” and the portfolio of key cooperative projects and signed economic and trade agreements. Boosting two-way trade in a stable, balanced and sustainable fashion; the Chinese side encouraged domestic firms to expand the imports of Vietnamese competitive goods; both sides actively considering negotiations and the signing of the amended agreement on Vietnam – China border trade. Discussing and deciding soon an overall plan for building a cross-border economic cooperation area and promoting infrastructure connectivity projects as well as cooperation across agriculture, manufacturing, services, science-technology, health care and quarantines, etc. The Chinese side backs its firms to invest in Vietnam and stands ready to offer Vietnamese businesses all possible support in extending market share. The Vietnamese side will give necessary conditions to Chinese firms to invest and do business in Vietnam.

The two sides declared to officially establish the Working Group on infrastructure cooperation and the Working Group on monetary cooperation, and agreed to increase the coordination between these groups and the Working Group on cooperation for common development at sea, and work together to foster the development of cooperation in all fields.

- Increasing exchanges and cooperation in diplomacy, defence, law enforcement, and security. Continuing to organise annual diplomatic consultations, expanding exchanges and cooperation between the two countries’ Ministries of Foreign Affairs. Maintaining high-level contacts between the two countries’ armies and defence and security dialogues, strengthening friendly exchanges between the countries’ border guard forces, satisfactorily managing disagreements, exchanging experience in the Party and political works in the armies; intensifying cooperation in personnel training; continuing joint patrols in the Tonkin Gulf and mutual visits by the countries’ naval ships. Deepening collaboration in security and law enforcement, fostering security dialogues, effectively implementing cooperation mechanisms and signed cooperation agreements; reinforcing cooperation in terrorism combat, drug and telecommunication fraud crime prevention and control, migration management, border management, cyber security…; ensuring safety for agencies, businesses, and citizens of this country in the other country.

- Expanding friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in the fields of journalism, culture, education and tourism and between the countries’ localities; continuing to organise people-to-people exchanges such as the Vietnam-China Youth Friendship Meeting and the Vietnam-China People’s Forum; actively promoting the establishment of this country’s cultural centre in the other country, increasing press exchanges and visits between the two countries’ journalists; deepening the friendly exchange between research institutions and scholars; practically enhancing communication campaigns on the Vietnam-China friendship, incessantly bolstering mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

- Continuing to bring into play the role of the Vietnam-China Land Border Joint Committee, well implementing documents on land border signed between the two countries; soon signing the “Agreement on cooperation in protecting and exploiting tourism resources in the Ban Gioc/Detian Waterfall vicinity” and the “Agreement on regulations on the free travel of ships at the mouth of the Bac Luan/Beilun River”; working together to protect the stability and development of border areas. Effectively bringing into play the role of the cooperation committee on Vietnam-China land border gate management; enhancing the building and management of border gate infrastructure of the two sides, increasing the cooperation between the countries’ border gates. Strengthening cooperation between the two sides’ border provinces and areas, and fostering common development in border areas of the two countries.

5. The two sides exchanges opinions on sea-related issues in a sincere and straightforward manner, stressing the compliance with important common perceptions reached between senior leaders of the two Parties and States, and the serious implementation of the “Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of Vietnam-China sea-related issues”; effectively utilising the Government-level negotiation mechanism on Vietnam-China boundary and territorial issues, persistently using friendly negotiations to seek basic and long-term solutions acceptable to both sides, actively studying transitional solutions that do not affect stances and policies of each side, including actively studying and discussing cooperation for common development. Working together to manage disputes at sea, fully and effectively implementing the “Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea” (DOC) and soon create a “Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea” (COC) on the basis of consultation and consensus, not taking actions that can further complicate and expand disputes; timely and satisfactorily settling arising problems, maintaining the overall situation of the Vietnamese-Chinese relations and peace and stability in the East Sea.

The two sides agreed to promote activities of the Working Group on cooperation for common development at sea, increase cooperation in less sensitive areas, firmly pushing negotiations on demarcation of the waters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf, actively boost cooperation for common development in these waters, and start joint surveys of the waters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf within this year.

6. The Vietnamese side affirmed that it pursues the consistent “one China” policy, supports the peaceful development of the Cross-Strait relations and the major cause of reunifying China, and vehemently protests actions advocating Taiwan independence under any form. Vietnam does not develop any official relations with Taiwan. The Chinese sides welcomed the abovementioned stance of Vietnam.

7. The two sides agreed to increase coordination at multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, APEC, ASEAN-China; working together to maintain, protect and promote peace, prosperity and development in the world. The Chinese side supports Vietnam in order to successfully organise the 2017 APEC Summit, Vietnam congratulated China on its successful organisation of the 2014 APEC Summit. The two sides agreed to intensify cooperation in building regional connection and promote common development in the region.

8. During the visit, the two sides signed a cooperation plan between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of China for the 2016-2020 period; an agreement on extradition cooperation ; an agreement on taxation issues for the joint oil and gas exploration project in the Tonkin Gulf between the Vietnamese and Chinese Finance Ministries; a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping between the Vietnamese and Chinese Defence Ministries; a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a working group on land infrastructure cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission; reference terms of the working group on financial and monetary cooperation between the State Bank of Vietnam and the People’s Bank of China; and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in making thematic TV films between the Vietnam Television and the China Central Television.

9. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong sincerely thanked General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping and the Chinese Party, Government and people for the formal, heartfelt, and friendly reception, invited General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to soon pay an official visit to Vietnam; General Secretary and President Xi Jinping thanked and accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Beijing, April 8, 2015.

Source: vietnam+