Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) and Chinese Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Mr. Minh met Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday within the framework of the fourth Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Luang Prabang, Laos. He asked both sides to continue to realize the shared perception of Party and State senior leaders and the Vietnam-China Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues. He urged the two sides to continue to resolve disputes and differences by peaceful means on the basis of respect for international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the legitimate interests of each nation.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Party and Government of China greatly value the consolidation and development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. He said China is ready to join hands with Vietnam in increasing strategic exchanges, consolidating political trust, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, satisfactorily settling differences, and promoting healthy and stable bilateral relations for mutual practical benefit. He said China is ready to open its doors to imports from other countries, with priority given to neighbors like Vietnam.