Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnamese Minister ofForeign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Chinese State Councillor and Minister ofForeign Affairs Wang Yi held talks in Hanoi on September 11, discussing ways topromote the countries’ comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The two sides applauded the recent strides in the Vietnam- China relations, stressing that the frequent meetings in flexible formsbetween senior leaders of the countries’ Parties and States since the beginningof 2021 have mapped out major orientations for bilateral cooperation andcreated an important driving force for exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

They agreed that amid the complex and considerably changinginternational situation, Vietnam and China’s enhancement of political trust andcomprehensive cooperation matches the fundamental and long-term interests ofboth the peoples.

In the time ahead, the two foreign ministries will keep workingclosely to advise the countries’ leaders in increasing contact; stepping up friendshipexchanges and all-round cooperation at all levels between sectors, localities,and peoples; tightening links in economy, trade, and the areas for which bothsides hold potential, especially in infrastructure building and transportprojects connecting the two countries; and bolstering the exchange of opinionsabout and mutual support in multilateral issues and at multilateralorganisations.

The officials discussed specific measures to enhance bilateral coordination in COVID-19 prevention and control and maintenance of trading and economicactivities.

FM Son thanked the ChineseGovernment for providing Vietnam with an additional 3 million doses of COVID-19vaccine. He expressed his hope that the two countries will keep strengtheningties in the COVID-19 combat, particularly in terms of vaccine.

The host asked China to provide favourable customsclearance procedures for Vietnamese goods, especially farm produce, at bordergates and permit more fruits from Vietnam to be exported via official channelsto China, thus helping to balance bilateral trade and sustain their supply andproduction chains.

He also called for coordination to speed up jointprojects such as the Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban railway project in Hanoi and someothers on social welfare funded by China.

At the talks, the two sides gave open and straightforwardopinions about border and territorial issues. They suggested detailed measuresfor land border management on the basis of reached agreements and legal documentson border, especially keeping close coordination among the mechanisms of the LandBorder Joint Committee and localities so as to share information and handle emerging issues  in a timely manner.

The ministers agreed to continue seriously complying with the commonperceptions reached between senior Vietnamese and Chinese leaders, controllingsea-related disputes well, jointly maintaining peace and stability in the EastSea, and together with ASEAN countries stepping up negotiations to soon attainan efficient, effective, and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea thatis in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Conventionon the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Minister Son emphasised the need to respect the rights and legitimate interestsof coastal countries in conformity with international law, including the 1982UNCLOS.

The two officials also highly valued the increasingly fruitful cooperationbetween the two foreign ministries, agreeing to intensify the collaborationbetween the ministries’ agencies./.