Shanghai (VNA) – Vietnam always attachesimportance to developing the friendly, stable, healthy and sustainablerelationship with China, considering this one of the top priorities in thecountry’s foreign policy, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

He made the statement at a meeting with Chinese PartyGeneral Secretary and President Xi Jinping in Shanghai on November 4 as part ofhis trip to China to attend thefirst International Import Expo of China (CIIE 2018) on November 4-5. 

PM Phuc calledfor joint efforts to maintain high-level visits and meetings, increase mutualpolitical trust, promote important cooperation mechanisms between the twoParties and countries, further utilise potential of each side and boostcooperation in areas that make practical progress.

The guest congratulated China on achievements the countryhas recorded after 40 years of reform and opening-up, and expressed his wishthat under the leadership of the Communist Party of China led by Xi Jinping, theChinese people will soon turn China into a modern socialist country that isprosperous, democratic, civilised, harmonious and beautiful.

He also lauded China’s initiatives to contribute to peace,stability and prosperity in the region and the world, as well as its Belt andRoad Initiative.

Vietnam backs the Mekong-Lancang cooperation in combinationwith the framework of the Greater Mekong Sub-region collaboration, foreffective use and management of water resources and sustainable development ofcountries, he noted.

PM Phuc expressed his belief that the CIIE 2018 will open up newcooperation channels for goods distribution, helping promote official tradeactivities and brand building so that more and more Vietnamese commodities can beconsumed in the Chinese market.

He suggested the Chinese side make it easy for Vietnamese goods to enter itsmarket, and devise practical policies and measures to reduce Vietnam’s big tradedeficit, towards promoting stable and sustainable growth of bilateral trade.

Vietnam always welcomes Chinese firms to invest in the country, he affirmed.

Regarding the sea-related issue, the Vietnamese Government leader applaudedpositive results of negotiation and cooperation mechanisms in less sensitiveareas at sea between the two countries, as well as initial progresses inpragmatic negotiation for the Codeof Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China recently.

He suggested the two sides respect legitimateinterests of each other, seriously realise the common perception of the twocountries' high-ranking leaders and the agreement on the basic principlesguiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China, and patientlysolve disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), inorder to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea and the region.

For his part, Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping affirmedthat PM Phuc’s participation in the expo reflects the Vietnamese Government’srespect for the bilateral relations.

He stressed that the Chinese Party and State always treasure ties with Vietnam,and agree to maintain high-level contacts to bolster political understandingand foster all-round cooperation in a practical manner with the Southeast Asiancountry.

He added that both sides will work together to enhance people-to-people exchangesand consolidate traditional friendship while maintaining peace andsustainability at sea and creating favourable conditions for the bilateral tiesto thrive.

Regarding economic-trade collaboration, Xi stated that China will import more goodsfrom Vietnam to sustainably balance trade with the neighbouring country.

In the past time, China has carry out various measures to increase imports fromVietnam. In 2017, Vietnam’s shipments to China rose 36.8 percent and China willcontinue to promote the trend in the coming time.-VNA