VN, China agree to effectively control divergences

PM Nguyen Tan Dung and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, Ha Noi, July 17, 2015. Photo: VGP

PM Dung urged the two countries to strengthen their friendship, satisfactorily address divergences, and work together to build a peaceful and stable environment for bilateral development cooperation as this is the common basic and long-term interest of the two Parties, States and peoples.

Meanwhile, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli also affirmed that China always attaches importance to accelerating cooperation with Viet Nam, striving to work with Viet Nam to deepen the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in a practical and effective manner.

He said his visit to Viet Nam aims to deploy agreements reached by the two countries’ senior leaders on enhancing friendship and political trust, satisfactorily settling divergences, and promoting substantive and mutually beneficial cooperation for healthy, stable and long-term development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Both sides agreed to beef up political trust through maintaining high-level contacts and exchanges, and substantive cooperation in such areas of economy, trade, investment and tourism.

They expressed their belief that the two-way trade volume will reach US$100 billion in the time to come. Vice Premier Zhang pledged to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese goods, including rice to penetrate into the Chinese market in a bid to reduce trade imbalance.

For sea-related issue, PM Dung asked the two sides to abide by the agreements and common perceptions of the senior leaders of the two Parties and States regarding effective control of divergences at sea without taking actions that may further complicate the situation or expand disputes.

Both countries need to work together to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, seriously and fully implement the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, collaborate with ASEAN member States to conclude a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, satisfactorily address disputes through peaceful measures in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in order to maintain peace and stability for development in each country and in the region.

PM Dung also called on the two countries to foster negotiation on demarcation of of the waters off the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf.

In response, Mr. Zhang stressed that the two countries need to strictly implement the high-level agreements, effectively control all divergences, and avoid the expansion of disputes./.

By Quang Minh