Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu and his Chinese counterpart  Sun Weidong (Photo: MOFA)

Nguyen Minh Vu, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Secretary General of the Steering Committee for Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation, held talks with Sun Weidong, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister and Secretary General of the Steering Committee for China-Vietnam Bilateral Cooperation, on Wednesday in Hanoi.

Deputy FM Vu proposed that the two foreign ministries continue to intensify strategic exchanges and maintain regular high-level contacts. He called for the effective implementation of exchange and cooperation mechanisms between the governments, national assemblies, and front organizations while encouraging localities and sectors to expand exchanges and collaboration.

He also underscored the need to augment substantive cooperation, with a top priority on accelerating key railway projects connecting the two countries, aiming to make railway cooperation a new growth driver.

Vu reiterated Vietnam’s consistent stance on handling disputes and differences in the East Sea through peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He called for regular negotiations and exchanges between the two countries on maritime issues and for the proper resolution of matters related to fishing vessels and fishermen.

In response, Sun Weidong expressed appreciation for Vietnam’s cooperation proposals and affirmed that China would continue expanding imports of Vietnamese goods, including agricultural products. He also encouraged Chinese enterprises to increase investments and pledged active coordination with Vietnamese agencies to resolve obstacles in certain cooperative projects.

The Chinese diplomat suggested that both sides expedite the implementation of Chinese aid packages for Vietnam in healthcare, education, and livelihood improvement while continuing coordination within multilateral mechanisms.