The 14th Meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation Is Held

On July 13, 2022, the 14th Meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation was held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The meeting was co-chaired by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vietnamese Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, and attended by officials in charge of relevant ministries, commissions, and local governments from both sides in an online and offline format.

Wang Yi said, General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong have maintained strategic communication to steer bilateral relations. All departments of both sides have made joint efforts to continuously push for new progress in practical cooperation. This year, both China and Vietnam have important domestic political agendas. It's important to strengthen coordination in a holistic approach, and make joint efforts in the direction of building a strategic community with a shared future. Facing the risks and challenges on the way forward and the arduous tasks of reform and development, we should inherit and carry forward the special friendship, consolidate solidarity and mutual trust, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to serve respective national construction and development, and make greater contributions to peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Wang Yi put forward proposals on strengthening bilateral cooperation. First, highlight the guidance. We should elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries to new heights under the guidance of the important consensus reached by the high-level leaders of the two parties and the two countries. Second, work for more strategic significance. We should deepen experience-sharing on state governance, and strengthen exchanges between legislative bodies and between the two parties, so as to provide strong theoretical support for the development of the socialist cause of the two countries. Third, demonstrate pragmatism. We should give play to the geographical proximity and complementary industrial advantages of the two countries, further release dividends of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and work to upgrade the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Fourth, encourage innovation. We should strengthen cooperation in climate change, green development, photovoltaics, and clean energy, among others. Fifth, maintain stability. We should strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges to cement the foundation of public support for the friendship between the two countries.

Pham Binh Minh said, the Vietnamese side congratulates Chinese comrades on the great achievements that captured the attention of the world in advancing the cause of national development, the successful convening of the sixth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Community Party of China (CPC), the successful hosting of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, and the effective management and control of the resurgence of the pandemic in some areas. By scoring these achievements, China has laid a solid foundation for realizing better development and also made positive contributions to promoting solidarity and progress in the world. He believes that under the strong leadership of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, China will achieve its second centenary goal on schedule. He wishes the 20th National Congress of the CPC a complete success.

Pham Binh Minh said, China and Vietnam are brotherly and friendly neighbors with the same socialist cause, and also comprehensive strategic cooperative partners. Vietnam sticks to the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the path of socialism, and pursues an independent, all-round and diversified foreign policy. Relations with China are the top priority of Vietnam's foreign policy, and it's Vietnam's strategic choice to develop friendly relations with China. Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, bilateral relations have maintained a sound momentum of development, and cooperation has yielded fruitful outcomes with many highlights. Guided by the consensus reached by the high-level leaders of the two parties and the two countries, Vietnam is ready to maintain close high-level exchanges, consolidate strategic mutual trust, promote cooperation in various fields, help the two countries smoothly advance respective major political agendas, and further demonstrate the strategic significance and rich connotations of bilateral relations.

Wang Yi said, the 20th National Congress of the CPC is the most important agenda in the political life of the CPC and China this year, and it will surely be a congress featuring solidarity, victory and progress. The congress will inject fresh and strong impetus into the Chinese people's new journey towards building a modern socialist country and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation at a faster pace.

Wang Yi said, the traditional friendship featuring comradeship and brotherhood, and the common mission of sticking to the leadership of communist parties and pursuing a socialist path are powerful endogenous driving forces for the development of China-Vietnam relations. Under the current situation, both sides should firmly push forward the respective goals of development and revitalization, stay committed to the socialist path, firmly develop the China-Vietnam friendship, safeguard the common strategic interests of the two countries, and join hands to cope with changes in the regional situation and global challenges.

The two sides took stock of the positive outcomes of bilateral pragmatic cooperation, and agreed to step up synergy to turn the consensus into concrete actions that promote cooperation.

The two sides will seek greater synergy between development strategies, and advance cooperation on connectivity, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" strategy at a faster pace.

The two sides spoke highly of the bilateral trade that witnessed positive growth against an overall downward trend, and will explore the establishment of a mechanism for jointly ensuring and promoting the stability of industrial and supply chains. The two sides will strengthen port construction and facilitate customs clearance.

The two sides will strengthen exchanges and cooperation in agriculture, pandemic response, emerging industries, news media and other fields.

The two sides will properly handle sensitive maritime issues and work for more visible outcomes of maritime cooperation.

The two sides will enhance solidarity and coordination in regional and international affairs, stick to the ASEAN-led and effective regional cooperation architecture, uphold true multilateralism, and act on open regionalism.

After the meeting, the two sides jointly announced the signing of an agreement on economic and technological cooperation, as well as cooperation documents on agriculture, marine environment and maritime cooperation, among others.