General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party (CPC) and President of China Xi JinPing (photo: Pham Kien/VNA)

During a meeting on Thursday, CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and CPC General Secretary and President Xi Jinping underscored the importance of enhancing the traditional relationship between the two Parties and countries. They agreed to improve political trust and relations among ministries and localities, boost cooperation in trade, economics, investment, science and technology, education, culture, and tourism. Both sides will well collaborate in implementing documents on land border management, promote border trade, manage and resolve maritime disputes to avoid impacts on the stable and healthy development of bilateral relations.

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong said the Vietnamese Party, state, and people have always respected the friendly neighborliness with China and would work with China to deepen the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

He said both countries should better resolve differences to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, not allow maritime disputes affect bilateral ties. He asked China to take the lead in fully implementing the DOC and heading to the formation of the COC, not pursue militarization in the East Sea, and improve mutual trust for the implementation of maritime cooperative projects. Vietnam takes a positive attitude in cooperation for mutual development in disputed areas under international law, particularly the 1892 UNCLOS.

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong invited CPC General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to attend the APEC summit in Vietnam in 2017. Xi accepted the invitation.

CPC General Secretary and President Xi Jinping said the Chinese Party and state respect the improvement and development of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership under the motto of “friendly neighborliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-lasting stability, towards the future” and the spirit of “good neighbors, good friends, good comrades, good partners”.

Xi agreed with orientations and key measures raised by Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong to improve the relationship between the two Party and countries.

Both leaders witnessed the signing of cooperative documents including a training cooperative program for cadres of the two Communist Parties from 2016 to 2020, agreements between the two governments on free travel of ships at the mouth of Beilun River and the protection and exploitation of tourism resources in the Ban Gioc Waterfall.