Wang Yi Speaks with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son on the Phone

On April 14, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.

Wang Yi said, in the face of the intertwined impact of major changes in the world and the COVID-19 pandemic, both unseen in a century, as well as the Ukraine crisis, China and Vietnam, which are close neighbors pursuing the same path of socialism, should give full play to the political strengths of the two parties and two countries, and carry forward the friendly tradition featuring comradeship and brotherhood. We should not only properly manage our own affairs and maintain the momentum of respective development and revitalization, but also strengthen strategic communication and make new contributions to maintaining regional peace and stability.

Wang Yi said, President Xi Jinping has announced that China will donate 150 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries this year. China will continue to provide COVID-19 vaccines, anti-pandemic supplies, specific drugs and other anti-pandemic support for Vietnam, and at the same time push for early delivery of assistance for the Vietnamese people's livelihood. Efforts should be made to strengthen joint prevention and control at border ports to ensure the COVID-related safety of people at the border ports and goods exported to China. China hopes that the two sides launch more cross-border railway services, promote connections with the western New International Land-Sea Corridor, and build a smoother "green lane" for the export of high-quality Vietnamese agricultural products to China.

Wang Yi said, thanks to the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the current situation in the South China Sea has remained generally stable. It is precisely some forces with ulterior motives outside the region desire to see the South China Sea plunge into chaos. It is in the common interests of China and Vietnam to continue to maintain peace in the South China Sea. Efforts should be made to give full play to the role of the land boundary negotiations and the three maritime working groups, push for substantive progress in maritime delimitation in the sea area outside the mouth of the Beibu Bay and joint development in the South China Sea, and avoid unilateral actions that may complicate the situation. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). We should take this opportunity to reach an early agreement on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), so as to provide a more solid guarantee for the long-term peace and stability in the South China Sea. China hopes that Vietnam will play an active and constructive role in this regard.

Bui Thanh Son congratulated China on successfully hosting the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games and wishes in advance the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China a complete success. He said, Vietnam has always regarded its relations with China as the top priority of its foreign policy and stands ready to work with China to strengthen strategic communication, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and promote the continuous development of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Vietnam thanks China for its strong support for Vietnam in fighting the pandemic, understands and respects China's pandemic prevention policy, and hopes to continue to take flexible and effective measures to ensure the two countries' COVID-related safety and smooth operation of ports. Against the background of the complex evolution of international and regional landscape, Vietnam is ready to make joint efforts with China to implement the DOC, reach a substantive and effective COC at an early date, and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. Vietnam hopes that consultations of the three maritime working groups of the two sides will make substantive progress, giving priority to advancing maritime delimitation in the sea area outside the mouth of the Beibu Bay.

The two sides exchanged views on the Ukraine issue. Wang Yi said, the Ukraine issue has once again made Asian countries realize that maintaining peace and stability is precious and indulging in bloc confrontation will lead to endless risks. The United States tries to create regional tension and incite antagonism and confrontation by pushing ahead with the "Indo-Pacific Strategy". Such moves will seriously damage the hard-won peace and development in the region and seriously erode the ASEAN-centered regional cooperation architecture. We can't let the Cold War mentality resurge in the region and the tragedy of Ukraine be repeated around us. Both China and Vietnam are socialist countries. China is ready to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Vietnam, resist external risks, cope with the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis in the region, and play an active role in maintaining overall peace and stability in the region.

Bui Thanh Son said, Vietnam welcomes China's contributions to promoting peace talks, ending conflicts and preventing humanitarian crises. Vietnam holds that relevant parties should abide by the UN Charter and international law, and seek a long-term solution to differences on the basis of respecting the lawful rights and interests of all parties. Vietnam shares many similarities with China in its position and hopes to continue communication with China on the Ukraine issue.