Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung (Photo: Vietnam Foreign Ministry)

Speaking to reporters, Trung said Vietnam’s foreign policy is aimed at maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development while seizing opportunities to boost national economic growth. He stressed one of Vietnam’s crucial goals is to resolutely safeguard national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity saying it is the top priority of Vietnam’s foreign policy.

'I hope the Party and state will pay more attention to economic development in border areas, increase links between border areas and low-land and coastal areas, and upgrade infrastructure in border areas. Border areas are new areas for Vietnam to boost its development. Once we have expressways to Lang Son, Lao Cai, we will have more advantages to boost our development. I hope that infrastructure in Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lai Chau and Dien Bien province will also be upgraded."

Trung said the East Sea concerns cooperation not only in trade, investment, and aviation but also in climate change response, scientific research, and fighting crime. Such cooperation brings great benefits to countries in the region, said Trung. 

'I really hope that in the near future, we will strengthen cooperation in exploiting sea resources, environmental protection, climate change response, scientific research, and fighting crimes. This is what we means by saying the border territory issue concerns promotion of cooperation.'