Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (Photo: VNA)

Mr. Trong said that although the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected all aspects of international life and exchanges and cooperation between Vietnam and China, the relationship between the two parties and countries continues its growth momentum. He thanked China for sharing experiences and providing vaccines for Vietnam and expressed his hope that the two sides will continue to give high priority to cooperation in COVID-19 response and post-pandemic recovery and growth.

Party leader Trong suggested the two sides continue to implement free trade and border trade agreements and called for China’s further facilitation for more balanced trade between the two countries. It’s necessary to speed up the licensing of import of Vietnam's staple agricultural products, increase investment in large projects that represent China's development level, and jointly address problems, said Mr. Trong.

The Party General Secretary urged for closer coordination in border management and protection, strict implementation of legal documents on the land border between the two countries, build a border of peace, stability, cooperation and development.  Efforts should be made to improve maritime cooperation, promote discussions and negotiations on delimitation, properly handle issues at sea, coordinate effectively, and join ASEAN’s negotiating efforts to build a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Party leader and President Xi affirmed that China attaches great importance to the traditional friendly neighborliness with Vietnam, wishes and is willing to work with the Party, Government and people of Vietnam to continue strengthening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Vietnam during socialism building process.

He said China agreed on enhancing high-level exchanges, deepening substantive cooperation, coordinating at multilateral forums, and properly handling maritime issues. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides need to maintain regular exchanges and contacts at all levels, sectors and localities through flexible forms, speeding up strategic connection, creating new bright spots in bilateral cooperation.