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| Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Source: VNA) |
In an interview granted to China’s Xinhua news agency on the occasion of his attendance at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) on November 4-5, PM Phuc affirmed that the most outstanding achievement is the strengthening of political, diplomatic and economic ties.
According to the PM, the two countries have maintained regular mutual visits and high-level contacts, through which the two sides reached common perceptions on many important matters.
The political and diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China have laid a foundation for the development of investment, trade and economic ties, with the signing of many investment and economic agreements.
China has become one of Vietnam's most important trading partners with the two-way trade surging, and trade imbalance gradually improving.
A string of people-to-people activities, particularly between youths, residents in border areas, have been held, thus positively contributing to enhancing the bilateral time-honoured friendship.
Tourism cooperation between Vietnam and China has continued to advance in recent years, and China is Vietnam's largest source of foreign visitors.
The PM cited figures which showed that last year, Vietnam welcomed over 4 million Chinese tourists, up 48.6 percent year-on-year, accounting for over 30 percent of the total international arrivals to Vietnam. In the first ten months of this year, around 4.2 million Chinese tourists visited Vietnam, representing a year-on-year rise of 28.8 percent. Meanwhile, about 3 million Vietnamese people visit China each year.
PM Phuc noted that both sides have coordinated closely in carrying out legal documents on land border, intensified management over security and safety in border areas, and achieved common perceptions on controlling dispute and maintaining peace and stability at sea, while actively stepping up negotiation mechanisms on sea-related issues.
These achievements have contributed to solidifying the foundation for the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, thus boosting development and improving position of each nation.
The Vietnamese government leader suggested the two sides continue to implement the important perception shared by leaders of the two countries, increase the exchange of high-level visits and contacts, promote friendly exchanges and win-win cooperation, and bring practical benefits to the two peoples.
He took the occasion to affirm Vietnam’s support of cooperative activities and economic linkages within the framework of the “Belt and Road Initiative” for the sake of peace, development and prosperity for nations in the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits and respecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of participating countries as well as international law.
PM Phuc noted in 2017, Vietnam and China signed a memorandum of understanding on joint implementation of “Belt and Road Initiative” and "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan. Vietnam is of the view that the two countries have cooperation potential in promoting connectivity in policy, infrastructure, trade, finance and people-to-people links, he said.
He proposed that Vietnam and China focus on fostering cooperation for greater access to the Chinese market by Vietnamese enterprises and advantageous commodities, such as agricultural products, seafood, fruits, and electronic products, and actively promote balanced and sustainable trade.
The PM also called for greater Chinese investments in hi-tech and environmentally-friendly projects in Vietnam, while proposing the Chinese side facilitate Vietnam’s access to its preferential loans.
He informed that the Vietnamese government has instructed ministries and sectors to coordinate with the Chinese side to concretize the above-mentioned cooperation contents, and work out specific cooperation plans on connecting the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" with the “Belt and Road Initiative”.
PM Phuc appreciated China's organising the 2018 CIIE which reflects the country’s thinking of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, creating a large-scale, important new trade promotion channel for China and partners, and offering opportunities to enterprises from China and other countries to obtain information, research markets and promote trade.
Taking part in the expo as a “guest of honour,” Vietnam has a good chance to promote its national image and strengthen trade and investment promotion activities, Phuc said, adding that Vietnamese companies have opportunities to trade and expand cooperation with 150,000 entrepreneurs and investors from all over the world.
Through this expo, Vietnam, as a bridge between the ASEAN Economic Community and China, looks forward to optimizing practical benefits brought by the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, contributing to the overall development of ASEAN-China economic and trade relations, he added.
